As Paris, France will host the 2024 Olympics, there has been growing scrutiny over the Seine river's polluted water being a health concern for the athletes. That is to say, French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera did her best to put the fears to the side, as she jumped in the water herself, with a huge smile on her face, in what was a big publicity stunt.
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Amid concerns over the water quality, Oudea-Castera actually promised to do this, as she posted the monumental gesture, with the caption (translated), "as promised," while jumping into the river alongside Paralympic triathlon champion Alexis Hanquinquant.
Promesse tenue ! 🏊
Avec @AHanquinquant, notre champion paralympique de triathlon, qui fêtait son rôle de porte-drapeau à Paris 2024 ! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/SsJYaWwhSS
— Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (@AOC1978) July 13, 2024
With that being said, no one would have blamed her if she backed out of this, as in June, it was reported that there were unsafe levels of fecal bacteria, such as E. coli, which very much exceeded the limits set by sporting officials.
⚡️The French Minister of Sports swam in the fecal waters of the Seine before the start of the Olympic Games.
Amelie Udea-Castera thus wanted to prove the suitability of the river for hosting swimming competitions.
Earlier, the French newspaper Le Parisien wrote that… 🤮 pic.twitter.com/2jnFi3htPv
— Tay Keith 🇷🇺 (@Germaarig) July 13, 2024
The two Olympic events that will be held here this summer include, the triathlon and open water swimming. Considering this, reportedly, Paris spent about $1.5 billion to clean up the sewer system. However, last month the water test results found more than 10 times the amount of E. coli, than the World Triathlon Federation allows, which sets a limit of 900 colony-forming units of E. coli per 100 milliliters.
For those wondering why the water is so dirty, it is a result of heavy rain, as the city's sewer system is designed to let out wastewater into the river when there is an excess amount. This then results in high levels of E. coli, which is not safe for swimming. Nevertheless, the French Prime minister is hoping people forget about all that after they see a short video clip of her jumping into the water.
Organizers have done their best to help solve this problem, by implementing a 50,000 cubic meter reservoir, which is supposed to store excess stormwater to prevent wastewater from coming into the river.
City hall official Pierre Rabadan made a statement on the current status this past weekend, claiming that the quality of the water has gotten better, as there has been apparently around 10 days of it passing the quality-control test, but this hasn't been proven.
"We hope the weather will get a little better, but we are not worried about the possibility of holding the competitions. They will take place."
Related: Summer Olympics 2024: See The Full Schedule, All Dates And Times, And Paralympic Games
