The city of Paris, France, is now allowing residents to swim in the river Seine after a century-long ban.
Since 2018, Paris has been working to clean the waters of the Seine to revive its ecosystem and ensure its safety for use in upcoming swimming events, including the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The Seine was previously used for swimming competitions during the 1900 Olympics in Paris but was later closed for recreational swimming in 1926 due to pollution concerns.
On July 25, the Olympic Torch was unveiled on the banks of the Seine, marking one year until the games begin.
This weekend, the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2023 is taking place in the river, though one race had to be postponed due to rainfall affecting the water quality.
The women’s race, originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5, has been rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6. A training session for Olympic swimmers was also canceled on Friday due to the rain.
AP Photo/Christophe Ena
According to the city of Paris’ website, swimming in the Seine was a traditional Parisian activity, and reopening the river for swimming is a nostalgic return to the past.
Starting in 2025, the public will be able to swim in the Seine at three locations: Bras Marie, Bras Grenelle, and Bercy, at the Simone de Beauvoir footbridge.
Water analysis conducted in June showed excellent results in compliance with European regulations, with testing standards at 91% for the sites where Olympic swimming events will be held in the summer of 2022.
The Seine cleanup project is costing 1.4 billion euros, according to the city’s website. The objective is not only to enable swimming but also to transform the Seine into an ecological corridor.
In a unique twist, the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris will take place on the Seine River rather than in the Olympic stadium. However, spectators will need to pre-register for tickets even though the event is free.
To accommodate non-paying spectators, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has advocated for designated spots on the river’s upper embankments, separate from paying guests with waterside views.
Despite concerns about the security operation’s size and complexity, organizing committee president Tony Estanguet and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo defended the decision to hold the opening ceremony on the Seine River, highlighting France’s ambition in hosting the Games.
“When France organizes
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