Paris Mayor Swims in Seine to Prove Cleanliness for 2024 Olympics After €1.4 Billion Cleanup

Jul 17, 2024, 11:45 AM

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine River on Wednesday morning to demonstrate that the river is clean enough to host outdoor swimming events for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which begin in nine days. This act fulfilled a promise she made in January and aimed to reassure the public and Olympic athletes about the river's cleanliness. The Seine, long-polluted and once declared biologically dead, has undergone a significant clean-up effort costing approximately €1.4 billion. Hidalgo, clad in a wet suit and goggles, took the plunge as part of a broader effort to showcase the river’s improved water quality and readiness for the Olympic Games.