Paris Mayor Takes a Swim in the Seine Ahead of the Olympics

PARIS, July 17 Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the Seine ahead of the Olympics to prove that it is safe to hold competitions in the capital's river, a 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 was postponed twice. The first time, in June, he was prevented by strong currents in the river, then Hidalgo considered it inappropriate to swim in the midst of the campaign before snap elections to the French parliament. At the same time, according to the associations, only a few days ago water samples taken from the river showed that it is possible to swim in the Seine. Previously, all samples contained twice the normal number of pathogenic bacteria.

The mayor's office reported that for the sake of the competition, many treatment facilities and drainage systems were updated. The cost of water purification measures amounted to about 1.4 billion euros.

On Saturday, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera took a swim in the Seine, wearing a wetsuit and rubber cap.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said , that he is ready to swim in the Parisian river, without giving a possible date.
In addition to him, 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 take place from the 26th July to August 11, Paralympics — from August 28 to September 8.