French President Emmanuel Macron promised on Thursday — then coyly downplayed his promise — to swim in the Seine River to prove it is safe for the upcoming 2024 Summer Games.
Macron, 46, made the semi-promise as he sought to reassure the world that France’s plan to have Olympic swimmers compete in the Seine River at this year’s summer games is a safe and sound idea, the Associated Press reported.
The country plans to use the Seine River for the grand opening as well as the venue for numerous swimming competitions.
The Paris River is the fifth largest in France and winds directly through the heart of the country’s capital, with dozens of famous bridges towering over it. Its shores are lined with lively city streets and promenades, and tourist boats sail around its bends every day.
However, water quality in the river has long been a problem. More specifically, the dangerous amounts of waste water that flow into it through the 19th century sewage network. Swimming in the river has mostly been banned in Paris since 1923, writes the Associated Press. But France planned to use its cityscape, including the river, to host several events during the upcoming 2024 Summer Games.
Macron, the city authorities and the Olympic Committee claim that swimming in the river is safe.
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Seine River.
Andrea Mantovani/Bloomberg/Getty
During a tour of the new Olympic complex in Paris on Thursday, the AP reports that Macron told reporters that an “extraordinary” amount of public investment had made the river safe again.
Macron was then challenged by a journalist, asking him if he himself would swim in the Seine. “I, yes, I will go,” Macron reportedly said before backing away a bit.
“I won’t give you a date: there’s a risk you’ll be there,” he then said, trying to joke.
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Emmanuel Macron.
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The Paris Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, and the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8.
According to France 24, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has also promised to swim in the river at some point before the 2024 Summer Games.
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The country plans to use the Seine River for open water swimming events as well as the triathlon competition at the Summer Games. France has spent roughly $1.5 billion upgrading sewers and stormwater treatment plants along the river to clean up the river’s waterways, the paper said.
Last year, the outlet reported that three tests scheduled for the river were canceled due to high levels of E.Coli.
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Source: HIS Education