PARIS (TVBS News) — The Seine River in Paris faced significant challenges over the weekend as heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday resulted in the river's contamination. This forced organizers to cancel the triathlon training session scheduled for Sunday morning.
Despite these setbacks, organizers remain confident that the events will proceed as planned on Tuesday and Wednesday. The triathlon is set to be the first Olympic event held in the Seine, preceding the open-water swimming events in the second week of the Paris Olympics.
Passersby on a bridge near Notre Dame appeared skeptical about the quality of the Seine's water. Jean-Luc J., a Parisian, expressed his concerns: "I find the idea of a triathlon in the Seine River a bit daring. Yes, huge investments have been made to purify the water, to prevent the Parisian sewage system from spilling over when it rains."
"On the other hand, if you're curious enough to go up the Seine and Marne rivers, that's a historic sewer that spills over upstream from Paris and makes daily 'gifts' (feces) to the Marne that flow into the Seine," he added. "I'm not an expert, I'm not a doctor. But it's clear that counting on bacteria levels being below tolerance thresholds is a very risky gamble that's a bit delusional," while pointing to his smartphone.
On Sunday, authorities did not specify the levels of E. coli and enterococci bacteria in the water or provide the official thresholds. However, they emphasized that the health of the athletes remains a top priority.
Karine K., another Parisian, shared her thoughts: "I hope that in time, yes, it will be possible. After that, I don't know when, but for the moment, I think they're working on it, on making the Seine enjoyable again for everyone. But after that, I know that obviously, with time and all this soil pollution, I imagine that the Seine has suffered as a result."
Swimming has been banned in the Seine since 1923, although Parisians continued to swim there until the 1960s. Authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros in sanitation projects since 2015, but there is still no guarantee that the competitions will proceed as planned.
Similar to the 1900 Olympic Games, the Seine is set to host the 2024 edition's nautical events. The preparations and investments underscore the ambition to revive the river for public use and international competitions. However, the recent rainfall and resulting contamination highlight the ongoing challenges in achieving this goal.
As the Paris Olympics approach, the focus remains on ensuring the health and safety of the athletes while aiming to deliver a memorable and successful event. The commitment to improving the Seine's water quality continues, with hopes that future generations will benefit from these efforts.
