The French president has promised to take a swim in the Seine this Thursday, allaying fears of pollution in the river, which will be the “stage” for open water swimming and the triathlon and paratriathlon sectors in Paris in 2024.
At the opening of the Olympic Village, Emmanuel Macron pointed to the pollution of the Seine as one of the lasting legacies of Paris 2024, highlighting the “extraordinary” public investment that allowed the river, closed to swimming since 1923, to host the Olympics and Paralympians.
“Yes, I will go,” the French president answered when asked whether he would swim in the Seine, but refused to say when: “I will not indicate the date, because I risk being there too.”
In August, poor water quality in the Seine led to the cancellation of the Paris 2024 test event for a third time. A month later, it was discovered that a valve at the Tolbiak plant had been damaged by meteorological events and had caused releases that polluted the river to such an extent that these activities were cancelled.
Swimming in the Seine has been prohibited since 1923, but the mayor of the French capital, Anne Hidalgo, hopes to allow it again from 2025.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11, while the Paralympic Games are scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 8.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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