Pan Pacs open water races postponed

The heavy rain which has lashed the Gold Coast this week has forced the postponement of the 10km open water events at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships scheduled for Monday.

The large amounts of rainfall resulted in increased pollution in the waterways and lakes, making multiple Gold Coast venues unsuitable due to poor water quality, officials said on Sunday.

The event will now be swum in conjunction with the Junior Pan Pacs in Maui, Hawaii, on August 31.

Australian officials, after consulting the other charter nations the USA, Japan and Canada, were not prepared to risk the health and safety of the athletes and postponed the races.

"We are sincerely apologetic but we were unfortunately left with no alternative but to make the call to cancel," Swimming Australia CEO Mark Anderson said.