Paris — France’s Sports Minister Amélie Oudea-Castellas symbolically bathed in the Seine on Saturday in an attempt to allay concerns about the water’s quality ahead of the opening of the Paris Olympics.
Udea Castella put on the bodysuit and after his first slide, he jumped into the famous river and swam a few metres near the Alexandre III Bridge, where the Olympic open water swimming events are held.
“We kept our promise,” she told BFMTV, referring to an earlier pledge to swim in the Seine before the Olympics open on July 26.
She was accompanied by France’s Paralympic flag bearer, Alexis Encancan.
French politicians have promised to make the Seine swimmable again ever since swimming was banned in 1923 due to pollution levels. Former Paris mayor and future president Jacques Chirac vowed in 1988 to make the river clean enough to swim in by the end of his term, but this promise was never fulfilled.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also plans to swim in the Seine to demonstrate its cleanliness.
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron also promised to go swimming, but he added: “I won’t say a date. There is a risk that you will all be there.”
Paratriathlete Hankankan accompanied Udea Castela on Saturday’s swim to get a first-hand experience of the conditions he will face in the competition on September 1st.
Organizers have a backup plan in case water quality issues arise.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
