One year ahead of the Paris Olympics, concerns persist about the water quality in the Seine River, Euronews reports.
Just days ago, athletes were diving into the river from the Alexandre III Bridge for the individual stage of triathlon test competitions. However, the bacterial levels were deemed unacceptable, leading to the cancellation of the mixed relay swimming event. The triathlon was substituted with duathlon – a sequence of running and cycling stages.
A similar situation affected the para-triathletes' swim.
Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of the 2024 Olympics, expressed, "We are still grappling with understanding the cause behind the deterioration in water quality. Two water samples showed irregularities, with deviations from the norm. Our ongoing investigation aims to pinpoint the source of contamination."
Earlier in August, due to uncertainties surrounding water quality, swimming events on the Seine had already been canceled. Organizers at that time attributed the pollution and elevated E. coli bacteria levels to heavy rainfall. However, this time, no such explanations have surfaced.
Parisian authorities are steadfast in their commitment to open-water competitions. According to Tony Estanguet, head of the "Paris 2024" organizing committee, there is no viable "Plan B."
The promise of a safe Seine for Parisians to swim in has been lingering for more than a decade, and the city hall remains hopeful that a pristine river will become a lasting legacy of the Olympics.
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