Now French politicians are showing that it is possible to Olympic swim in the Seine, which has been heavily polluted for many years.
On Saturday, French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra took a swim in the river, where the Olympic marathon swimming events will take place.
The Olympic organizers have decided that the marathon swimming events for women and men, over ten kilometers, will take place in the Seine on August 9-19. This despite the river having been heavily polluted for many years. It has created a debate about the health risks for the swimmers, while billion investments have been made to clean up the Seine before the Olympics.
On Saturday, French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra swam several laps between the Alexandre III bridge and Les Invalides to show that swimming is possible.
What joy. It's just fantastic and a promise kept, said Amélie Oudéa-Castéra to the TV station RMC, referring to the promises that the water purification measures would work.
Even French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to swim in the Seine to prove that the water quality is up to standard.
But the Olympic organizers have encountered another water problem, reports AFP. The Olympic opening ceremony, on July 26, will take place on the Seine instead of the traditional main arena. But on Friday, the rehearsal of the opening ceremony was postponed for the second time. After several weeks of rain over Paris, the Seine's flow is five times stronger than normal at this time of year. The risk was too great that the boats, which have a central role, would go too fast.
Now the Olympic organizers hope to be able to hold the rehearsal on July 16.
