Sunday, 08 September 2024
Sunday, 08 September 2024
Hidalgo Swims to Prove Water Purity
On Wednesday morning, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the River Seine to show that the water is clean enough for Olympic swimming events. The swim took place at around 10 a.m., with many people watching from nearby bridges. This event was initially delayed due to heavy rain and concerns about water quality. Hidalgo stated, "We have worked very, very hard and then you go down into the water and it seems natural."
Joined by Olympic Committee Head
Hidalgo wore a wetsuit and goggles for her swim and was accompanied by Tony Estanguet, the head of the Paris Olympics Organising Committee. She started by paddling and then swam the front crawl. After the swim, Hidalgo confirmed that the water quality was good, though a bit cool. "The water is very, very good, a little bit cool," she said.
Olympic Events Scheduled for Seine
The triathlon and marathon swimming events for the Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, will be held in the Seine. Recent water quality tests indicate that the water is suitable for swimming on most days. Decisions on whether to hold these events in the Seine will be made just before each event by a technical committee. Estanguet added, "This is a very important message that, finally, the Seine is swimmable, and the triathlon and swimming events can be held here."
Efforts and Concerns About Seine's Cleanliness
Paris has made significant efforts to clean the Seine, including building a large storage basin for wastewater. If the river water does not meet health standards, the marathon swimming event will be moved to Vaires-sur-Marne, and the triathlon will be changed to a duathlon. Some residents and tourists still have concerns about the water's cleanliness. Jenn Fluet, a tourist from New York, said, "Hell no! It's dirty." Others are optimistic, like Pierre Suzeau, a member of an outdoor swimming group, who further added, "We are very happy to finally see swimming in an urban environment become a reality."
