Scrutinize the results of bacteriological analyzes of the water and observe the “crazy current” of the Seine River: less than fifty days until the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, The tension is palpable and the authorities examine the sky in the face of continuous rains that disrupt preparations.
The Parisian spring with abundant rainfall in recent weeks caused the postponement of several rehearsals for the opening ceremony. If the weather grants a respite, they will take place the week of June 17.
“There is no point in doing a rehearsal in climatic conditions that are not similar to those of the month of July,” insist the organizing committee and the prefecture of the Ile-de-France region, which is home to the capital. Paris.
2024 Olympic Games: concern in Paris
The rainy month of May caused the flow of the Parisian river artery to increase to 400 cubic meters per second. During that time, temporary stands at Olympic venues are being installed in Paris, and the time continues to race toward the Games (July 26-Aug. 11), which open in 48 days.
Just a small respite from the sky, and new rain clouds appear on the horizon. With the consequent risk of sewers overflowing, which would increase the dirtiness of the river.
The French swimmers, who had planned to take a dip on Monday to familiarize themselves with the Seine, left it for later. “It is logical that we could not swim because there was a crazy current,” explained Stéphane Lecat, director of open water swimming for Paris-2024, who, however, acknowledged “not being worried” for the Games.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s swim in the Seine, scheduled for June 23 as a gesture to demonstrate the optimal state of the river’s water, will also be “probably postponed” due to the strong flow.
“Due to the heavy rains in May and the very strong flow of the river, the swim on June 23 will probably be postponed,” the city council said. But also because of the quality of the water. The new date will surely be Sunday, June 30.
Danger
It would be “dangerous to bathe”, reports the prefecture of the Paris region. The analyzes at the beginning of June “will not be good,” all the actors warn behind the scenes, but they assure that the alarms have not yet gone off.
The statements of the current Olympic open water swimming champion, the Brazilian Ana Marcela Cunhaconsidering that the quality of the Seine’s water was “a concern” and calling for “a plan B” in early March did not sit well with the French authorities, who insist that there is no alternative, except postponement for a few days of the tests if the conditions are not met.
In May, the Surfrider association, which carried out its own analyses, concluded that the rates of the E.Coli bacteria were still higher than the standards required by the international swimming federation, especially near the emblematic Alexander III Bridge, in the middle of heart of Paris. The open water swimming race (August 8 and 9) and the triathlon event (July 30 and August 5) will pass through that place.
Last summer, the open water swimming test was canceled because the Seine was too polluted after an unusual episode of rain. Public institutions have invested US$15.13 million to enable the general public to bathe in that watercourse by 2025.
But everyone is aware: in case of heavy rains, these equipment will not be enough. “What is certain is that it is a tremendous bet,” summarizes a political source.
Source: Ambito
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