PARIS, July 17 Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a swim in the Seine on the eve of the Olympics, to prove that it is safe to hold competitions in the capital’s river, the correspondent reports.
On Wednesday morning, more than 500 journalists gathered on the promenade opposite Île Saint-Louis to see for themselves that the mayor will fulfill his promise to citizens. Surrounded by athletes, Hidalgo, in a short wetsuit and without a cap, with her hair in a ponytail, descended into the river along a prepared pontoon. Her swimming was greeted with applause from the press and passers-by.
Rescuers in inflatable boats were on duty near the swimming area. The French passing by stopped to look at what was happening.
“What is going on here? The mayor is bathing in the Seine? But this is impossible, everyone knows that the river is too dirty,” local residents exclaimed.
“It’s funny, but I would never risk swimming there,” said Parisian Eric.
Together with the mayor, the head of the organizing committee of the Paris Games, Tony Estanguet, took part in the swim.
The participants spent about five minutes in the water and were in no hurry to go ashore.
As the police reported, the city authorities prepared this time pontoon to avoid the incident that occurred on Saturday with the Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera. She tried to go down into the river along the silt-covered stones of the embankment, but slipped and fell, diving headlong into the river.
Hidalgo's swim has been postponed twice. The first time, in June, was hampered by strong currents in the river, then Hidalgo considered it inappropriate to swim in the middle of the campaign for the early elections to the French parliament. However, according to associations, only a few days ago water samples taken from the river showed that it was safe to swim in the Seine. Previously, all samples contained twice the normal amount of pathogenic bacteria.
The city hall reported that many treatment facilities and drainage systems had been renovated for the competition. The cost of the water purification measures was about 1.4 billion euros.
On Saturday, the French Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera took a swim in the Seine, putting on a wetsuit and a rubber cap.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said that he was ready to swim in the Parisian river, without giving a possible date.
In addition, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach and the Executive Director of the Committee Christophe Duby publicly promised to swim in the Seine.
The Olympics in Paris will be held from July 26 to August 11, the Paralympics — from August 28 to September 8.