The Seine, the emblematic river of the French capital, is currently at the heart of all concerns, less than two months before the launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Indeed, recent analyses of the water quality have revealed high levels of pollution, raising concerns about the possibility of organizing triathlon and open water swimming events there.
The published data indicate that the concentration of fecal bacteria E.Coli far exceeds the threshold authorized by international federations for the practice of these aquatic disciplines. The weather conditions, characterized by heavy rain and high flow of the river, seem to be the main factors contributing to this worrying situation.
Faced with this observation, the local authorities, in collaboration with the State and the communities, have set up a Swimming Plan aimed at making the Seine and the Marne suitable for swimming. However, despite the substantial investments of 1.4 billion euros, it appears that the results are slow to materialize, leaving doubts about the river’s ability to peacefully host the Olympic competitions.
Holding the sporting events in the Seine also raises questions about the safety of the athletes, as the high flow rate could compromise the smooth running of the competitions. In addition, the opening ceremony, planned as a nautical parade on the river, could be impacted by these unfavorable weather conditions.
In this context, adjustments could be considered, such as postponing the events or implementing alternative solutions. One can legitimately question the feasibility of maintaining the events planned in the Seine, given the challenges related to water quality and weather conditions.
Despite these challenges, the Olympic Games Organizing Committee is confident about the success of the event. It remains to be seen how the authorities will overcome these obstacles to offer quality competitions to athletes and the public, while preserving the integrity of the river and the environment.
Ultimately, the current situation raises crucial questions about the sustainability of the Olympic facilities and the ability of the organizers to meet these major challenges. The coming weeks promise to be decisive for the success of this major international event, in which the Seine plays a central and symbolic role.