The venue will host triathlon, water marathon and paratriathlon events and until last month was not suitable for swimming
Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, has proven to be a woman of her word. She promised that the waters of the Seine would be swimmable before the Paris Olympics and she has demonstrated that goal by swimming there this Wednesday 17, nine days before the opening of the Games.
The Sena, which will host the triathlon, aquatic marathon and paratriathlon, was not suitable for swimming until last month.
Along with the mayor, other representatives also took the big step, such as Tony Estanguet, president of the Organizing Committee of the Games, and Marc Guillaume, representative of the government of the Île-de-France region.
In a symbolic act a century after bathing in the river was banned, in 1923, Hidalgo swam about 100 meters at a walking pace, watched by hundreds of crowded spectators.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hidalgo said. “The promise (of eliminating pollution) has been kept,” he added.
Billion dollar investment
Since 2016, 1.4 billion euros (R$8.35 billion) have been invested to make the Seine and its main tributary, the Marne, suitable for swimming. Finally, in 2024, the objective was successfully completed.
Adversity
In case of heavy rains, untreated water can flow into the river, causing pollution complications. This is due to conservation work that began shortly before the Games.
In plan B, the idea is to postpone the races by a few days or even move the aquatic marathon to the city of Vaires-sur-Marne.
Gift
After her bath, Anne Hidalgo paid tribute to the 1990 mayor, Jacques Chirac, who had promised to clean the waters of the Seine when he was in office.
Evidence
Aquatic Marathon – August 8 (women) and August 9 (men).
Triathlon – 30 and 31 July individual women’s and men’s and, on 5 August, mixed team relay.
Source: Terra
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