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Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo Takes the Plunge in Seine River Ahead of 2024 Olympics
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo dives into the Seine River as a symbolic gesture before the 2024 Olympics, showcasing her commitment to the city’s preparations and highlighting her support for the upcoming sporting event.
After months of anticipation, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo finally took a daring dive into the Seine River on Wednesday, just nine days before the grand opening of the 2024 Olympic Games. Clad in a wetsuit, Hidalgo immersed herself in the river near the iconic City Hall, her office, and the historic Notre Dame Cathedral. Accompanying her was Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet.
Efforts to Showcase Improved Cleanliness
This symbolic act is part of a broader effort to showcase the river’s enhanced cleanliness in preparation for the summer games, which are set to commence on July 26th and will feature open-water swimming competitions. French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra had also recently swum in the Seine, donning a full-body suit.
Water Quality Concerns Addressed
Amid concerns over the flow and pollution levels of the Seine as the Olympics draw near, daily water quality tests are being conducted by the monitoring group Eau de Paris. While initial tests in early June showed unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria, improvements have been observed since then.
Seine’s Role in the Olympic Games
The Seine will play a significant role in the upcoming summer games, hosting various open-water swimming events such as marathon swimming and the swimming segments of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlons. Despite a century-long ban on swimming in the Seine, efforts are being made to ensure its safety and cleanliness for the athletes.
Investments and Renovations for a Cleaner River
Organisers have invested around €1.38 billion since 2015 to prepare the Seine for the Olympics and to provide Parisians with a cleaner river post-event. This initiative involved the construction of a massive underground water storage basin in central Paris, the renovation of sewer infrastructure, and the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants.
Unique Challenges Faced
Originally planned for June, Hidalgo’s swim was postponed due to snap parliamentary elections in France. On the initial date, a social media hashtag “jechiedanslaSeine” (“I’m pooping in the Seine”) trended, as some individuals threatened to protest the Olympics by unconventional means.
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