Pollution levels in the Seine in Paris have returned to high levels after the rains that fell between Friday and Saturday. The organizers of the Olympic Games were therefore forced to cancel the triathlon training session, which was to take place this morning, July 28. The unknown remains as to whether the races will be held in the Seine. But the organizers say they are confident that the events will be able to take place next Tuesday and Wednesday. But for the moment, “the water levels do not offer sufficient guarantees,” explain the leaders of the Olympic organizing committee and the triathlon federation in a press release. Long-distance swimming and part of the triathlon competitions are scheduled in the waters of the Seine.
The Mayor's Dive and Macron's Forfeit
The Seine has not been swimmable for about a century. The Paris 2024 Games organization has spent about a billion and a half euros to make the river suitable for swimming in time for the event. To demonstrate that the goal had been largely achieved, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a demonstration swim nine days before the start of the Olympic Games, accompanied by the president of the Olympic organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, and a government representative. But not President Emmanuel Macron, who had only promised in late February to take a dip in the Seine. But he never gave a date.
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