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Dirty Seine River Could Mean No Olympic Triathlon Swimming, Say Organizers

With less than two weeks until the Paris Olympics, concerns about the Seine River's water quality are mounting, potentially affecting the triathlon and marathon swimming events. Despite a €1.4 billion investment to clean the river, recent tests have shown inconsistent water safety results.


View of the Seine River in Paris with concerns about water quality for Olympic events.

France's Sports Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, demonstrated confidence in the river's cleanliness by diving into the Seine over the weekend. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also plans to swim in the river, underscoring the city’s efforts to assure the public of the water’s safety.


However, the legal ban on swimming in the Seine, which has been in place for over a century due to pollution, raises doubts. Léonie Périault, a French triathlete and 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, expressed frustration over the ongoing debate, recalling that she and others have swum in the Seine without issues during youth competitions.


To address the pollution, Paris has constructed a massive underground water storage basin near the Austerlitz train station, designed to prevent wastewater from contaminating the Seine during heavy rains. This basin, capable of holding the equivalent of 20 Olympic swimming pools of water, is central to the city’s infrastructure improvements aimed at ensuring a cleaner river for the Games and beyond.



Despite these efforts, heavy rain could still push E. coli levels beyond the safe limit set by the World Triathlon Federation, which is 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters. If such conditions arise during the Olympics, the triathlon may proceed without the swimming segment, and the marathon swimming event could be relocated to the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.


The complexity of managing water quality in an old city like Paris, which uses a combined sewer system, makes it challenging to predict the Seine's condition accurately. Recent tests have shown fluctuations in E. coli levels, with improvements seen after the new infrastructure became operational.

Experts like Dan Angelescu, CEO of water-monitoring tech company Fluidion, acknowledge the progress but caution that the river’s water quality remains fragile. The unpredictable weather patterns further complicate predictions, with Paris experiencing unusually high rainfall this year, limiting extended dry periods that typically help improve water quality.


Organizers remain hopeful that the infrastructure upgrades, coupled with favorable weather conditions, will ensure the events proceed as planned. The sun’s ultraviolet rays, known to kill bacteria like E. coli, are a natural ally in this effort. However, the final outcome depends on the weather in the days leading up to and during the Games.

As the Olympic countdown continues, the city of Paris is under pressure to deliver a safe and successful event, with the Seine River’s cleanliness at the forefront of public and athlete concern.


Source: Euronews

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