Paris 2024 Olympics Begin July 26, But the Seine River is Not Ready!

On July 26, the Olympics start in Paris, and the Seine is still not prepared! Tests reveal high concentrations of bacteria, including Escherichia coli.

Paris 2024 Olympics

Contamination Issues in the Seine

The Seine River, which flows through Paris, is set to host open water swimming and triathlon events in just two months for the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, tests show high levels of E. coli, a bacterium that causes infections in the digestive tract and urinary system, as well as Enterococcus. This issue poses a significant problem not only for the public image of Paris but also for the health of the athletes.

Efforts and Promises

Swimming in the Seine has been illegal since 1923, and in recent years, €1.5 billion has been invested to make the water swimmable again. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, had assured that the Seine would be made safe by the time of the Olympics, and several politicians had promised to take a dip in the Seine to prove its safety.

Postponed Demonstration

June 23 was the date when the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, had promised to take the plunge into the Seine. However, this event was postponed due to elections called last week after the defeat in the European elections.

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