Paris Olympics 2024: Ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024, scheduled to commence from July 26, the city of light is facing a ‘poop’ problem. The gravity of the problem is such that it may result in cancellation or postponement of open water swimming contests from the Olympic schedule this year! We delve deeper into the problem to understand what is happening and what the authorities in Paris are doing about it.
In a bold bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, Paris promised to clean up its iconic Seine River to accommodate open water swimming events, including the triathlon, paratriathlon, and marathon swimming. Notably, swimming in the Seine has been banned for about 100 years due to pollution, with the city’s sewer system often dumping wastewater into the river during heavy rains. This causes spikes in E. coli levels, rendering the water unsafe for swimmers.
E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals. Its presence in a drinking water sample typically indicates recent fecal contamination, which can cause serious illness.
Despite the ambitious promise, challenges persist. Last year, several test events were canceled due to high E. coli levels. Now, with the first Olympic event in the Seine scheduled for July 30, concerns remain as contamination levels are still high. According to a Forbes report, officials have warned that swimming events may be postponed, canceled, or relocated if water quality does not improve.
While all that is being done, French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, in an effort to boost public confidence, pledged to be the first ones to take a dip in the Seine. Although their initial swim was scheduled for June 23, it has been postponed to mid-July; in this case, the political climate of France is to be blamed rather than water quality of Seine.
Paris’ plan to clean the Seine
To fulfill their commitment, Paris officials have embarked on a $1.5 billion infrastructure project. This massive undertaking includes constructing an underground tank and tunnel system designed to hold excess sewage during heavy rainfall, thereby reducing contamination in the Seine. It is important to note that this move will not clean the river, but will instead save it from further contamination in case of heavy rainfall during the Olympics.
Daily water quality tests will be conducted leading up to the Olympic Games. While the city’s ambitious plan is in motion, the success of hosting swimming events in the Seine will ultimately depend on weather conditions.
The triathlon’s open water swimming segment is set for July 30, 31, and August 5. To proceed, water tests must be conducted within 48 hours before each competition to ensure safety.
Recent developments
Encouragingly, Paris city hall recently announced that the Seine has been clean enough to swim in for most of the past 12 days. Pierre Rabadan, a city hall official, stated that the water quality met the required standards for “11 days or 10 days” out of the past 12, France 24 news reported.
If the trend continues and weather conditions remain favorable, the Seine will not only host the swimming events but also play a central role in the opening ceremony of the Games on July 26.
While Paris is determined to deliver on its promise, the coming days will be crucial as the city races against time to ensure the river is safe for swimming.