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For the first time in over a century, the Seine River has been opened for public swimming to help Parisians cope with an intense heat wave. Mayor Anne Hidalgo made good on her promise to clean the river ahead of the Olympics. Despite official assurances of water quality, reports from Olympic test events noted athletes becoming ill after competing in the river.
Paris Olympics Preparations and Seine River Cleanup
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a highly publicized swim in the Seine River to prove the water is safe for Olympic athletes following a $1.5 billion cleanup effort. The project involved massive infrastructure upgrades to prevent sewage from flowing into the river, which has been banned for swimming for over a century. While officials claim water quality has improved, concerns remain regarding potential health risks like pink eye for competitors.
