Olympics bet against climate change with Seine swimming. For days, it looked like they would lose

With plans for athletes to swim the Seine River through the heart of Paris, Olympic organizers essentially bet against climate change’s extreme weather. For several days it appeared they would lose — by ditching the swimming portion of triathlon races.

It wasn’t until early Wednesday, after the men’s race had been postponed a day and test events called off, that organizers announced the most recent tests showed the water met standards to allow swimming.

Some scientists and engineers...