Paris, France - Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made good on her promise to swim in the Seine River on July 17, 2024, demonstrating its cleanliness for the upcoming Olympics. The mayor's symbolic dip in the river came after months of preparation and a $1.5 billion engineering project aimed at reducing sewage and industrial waste.
The Seine has been a source of concern for Parisians and visitors alike due to its long-standing reputation for pollution. Swimming in the river has been banned for over a century, but French officials are hoping to open river-water swimming pools along the Seine once the Games are over.
Hidalgo's swim took place near Paris City Hall and Notre Dame Cathedral, with Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris Olympics Committee and a three-time Olympic gold medalist as a slalom canoeist, accompanying her. The event was broadcast live on national television and attracted hundreds of spectators.
Despite some concerns over E. coli bacteria levels in the river, official testing has shown acceptable levels in recent days. The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is scheduled to take place on the Seine on July 26 if currents are not too strong.
The Seine's cleanup operation has been a major focus of Paris' preparations for the Olympics, with French officials investing heavily in upgrading wastewater treatment plants and renovating sewer infrastructure. The project has faced some delays due to heavy rain and political challenges but is now nearing completion.
Parisians and visitors alike are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to swim in the Seine once it is declared safe for recreational use. The city's mayor, who has pursued an ecological transformation of Paris, sees this as a significant milestone in her efforts to make the city more sustainable and accessible to all.
The Paris Olympics are set to begin on July 26, with swimming events including triathlon and 10-kilometer swimming races taking place in the Seine. The Games are expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world.
