Paris is buzzing with excitement ahead of the 2024 Olympics, but the stench of one worry continues.
The Seine, a classic stretch of river surrounded by iconic city views, has raised concerns about its safety for Olympic swimmers.
The river is due to host a marathon swim on August 8th and 9th and a triathlon on July 30th and 31st, but has come under scrutiny due to concerns about the safety of its water.
“It is madness that the IOC and the Olympic organising committee had this idea and are now pushing ahead with holding the opening ceremony and some events on the Seine.” An anonymous Paris environment official told The Sun: “The water is very bad, full of dirt and not suitable for any activity. There are also very high levels of chemicals, human waste and other dirty things, so bacteria like E. coli are everywhere.”
The ongoing concerns over pollution of the Seine come on the heels of years of efforts to improve the river’s quality.
Sports Pro Media reported: The French government has racked up $1.5 billion in debt since 2016 The river clean-up took place before France officially learned it would host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Heavy rain has led to increased contamination, including dangerous bacteria such as E. coli.
“It’s very disappointing that the Olympic organizers did not commit to cleaning the venues as quickly as they should have, and now the whole world is wondering whether they will get there in time,” said American swimmer Ivan Puskovic. He told USA Today Sports Early July.
But the good news is that a breakthrough appears to have been made regarding the Seine’s Olympic potential.
Pierre Rabadan, a Paris city hall employee He told RFI Water quality in the Seine has met the required standards for the most part during the first few days of July, and no logistical disruptions are expected.
“We’re hoping the weather will be a little bit better, but we’re not worried about whether we’ll be able to hold the competition,” Rabadan said. “The competition will be held.”
Beyond the competitions, the Seine will be one of the most visible features of the Olympics as the site of Friday’s floating Opening Ceremony, when athletes will take part in a riverside parade.
But uncertainty is likely to continue until swimmers actually dip their toes in the Seine’s waters.
“Hopefully everything will be resolved by the time we get there,” marathon runner Katie Grimes said.
