Paris 2024: the Seine, now under close surveillance
In view of the Paris Olympics in 2024, the quality of water in the Seine will be monitored to avoid a "hiccup" during the triathlon, para triathlon and open water swimming events next summer. As the Olympics approach, swimming in the river that runs through the French capital is always a question.
Triathletes train in the Seine for the test event, August 16, 2023. AFP - BERTRAND GUAY
By: Farid Achache Follow
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The pollution of the Seine had prevented the holding of the swimming events of the triathlon "test event" in August organized by Paris 2024. In question: the malfunction of a valve of the Parisian sewerage network.
« It's going to keep getting better »
A high concentration of Escherichia coli bacteria was found. "The laboratory sampling had a slightly higher rate" than the level allowed by the World Triathlon regulations, said the deputy sports of the mayor of Paris, Pierre Rabadan at a press briefing.
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It will continue to improve, promised Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. When we organize events there are always hazards, a lot can happen but we have seen the ability of the teams to react.
»The open water swimming events also had to be cancelled due to pollution caused by an unusual summer rain event.
► Read also: "test event", what is it for? How does it work?
From now on, the river will be monitored even more closely, including its sanitation networks but also the connections of boats and barges, said the mayor of Paris and the prefecture of Île-de-France in a statement.
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The conduct of the tests highlighted the need to strengthen surveillance, control and alert systems to limit any risk of unexpected discharge into the Seine in dry weather. " wrote the authorities at the end of a meeting on last summer's test events.
Response teams
Ten months before the Olympics and to prevent this type of incident, teams dedicated to monitoring the Seine will be likely to intervene in the event of pollution discharge.
Swimming in the Seine remains to be taken with many tweezers. While swimming has been banned since 1923, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has promised that the public will be able to swim in the river at three sites, from 2025.
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- Olympics 2024
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