The City of Light has placed the Seine River at the heart of its bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The opening ceremony and several open-water swimming events will be held along the iconic river, a bold move considering its notorious pollution.
Mayor Hidalgo’s pledge
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo vowed to clean the Seine to host these events, which include the swimming marathon, triathlon swimming stage, and a Paralympic swimming event. Swimming in the Seine has been banned for a century due to contamination, but Hidalgo promised to make it swimmable again.
Taking the plunge
On Wednesday, Hidalgo fulfilled her promise by diving into the Seine near City Hall and Notre Dame Cathedral. Wearing a wetsuit and goggles, she declared the water “exquisite.” She was joined by 2024 Paris Olympics chief Tony Estanguet, another senior official, and local swimming club members.
Significant investment in clean-up
Since 2015, Paris has invested $1.5 billion in cleaning the river, including constructing a massive underground rainwater storage tank in southeast Paris. The pollution, primarily from wastewater, has been significantly reduced.
Last week, officials reported that the river was safe for swimming on ten or eleven of the preceding 12 days, though specific test results were not disclosed. Despite recent heavy rain threatening contaminant levels, Hidalgo’s swim aimed to demonstrate confidence in the clean-up.
Plan B and future prospects
There is a contingency plan for the Olympic events should the Seine prove too toxic. However, confidence remains high, with the country’s sports minister also taking a dip and declaring the water “very good.” If successful, Hidalgo’s nearly decade-long effort will have achieved what eluded former Mayor Jacques Chirac.
