Seine's Sickly Splash: Olympic Practice Session Canceled After Swimmers Fall Ill
The Seine River’s suitability as a venue for Olympic events has been thrown into sharp relief, following the cancellation of a practice session for marathon swimmers on Tuesday. Concerns over water quality have been a persistent issue, particularly after two Olympic triathletes, who competed in the Seine just last week, fell ill. These incidents have illuminated the risks of holding athletic events in this historically polluted waterway. The recent cancellation of the marathon swimming practice was prompted by water samples taken on Sunday, revealing levels of enterococci bacteria that exceeded the permissible limits set by World Aquatics for “Good” water quality.
The situation has prompted comments from Paris officials, with deputy mayor Pierre Rabadan attempting to reassure the public that there is no direct link between the river and the athletes’ illnesses. However, skepticism remains, given the Seine’s long history of pollution. For nearly a century, swimming in the river was forbidden due to its filthy state. With the 2024 Olympics on the horizon, France embarked on an ambitious $1.5 billion project to clean up the Seine. Prior to the first triathlon event, multiple tests indicated that the river was safe for swimming. In a symbolic gesture to underscore the river’s newfound cleanliness, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo even took a brief dip in the Seine last month.
Despite these efforts, the river’s water quality remains a contentious issue. The cancellation of two practice sessions and the postponement of the men’s triathlon last Tuesday have done little to allay these concerns. The illnesses of Claire Michel from Belgium and Adrien Briffod from Switzerland, who both competed in the Seine, have cast further doubt. Briffod’s subsequent gastrointestinal infection added fuel to the fire, even though the Switzerland Olympic team maintained it was “Impossible to say” if it was linked to the Seine’s water quality.
As of now, no competition events have been outright canceled, but doubts about the safety of the Seine’s waters will likely linger. These doubts extend beyond this year’s Olympics, as Paris aims to open several locations along the river for public swimming by 2025. The ambitious cleanup project, while making significant strides, has not completely eradicated the river’s historical baggage. The presence of enterococci bacteria, a telltale sign of fecal contamination, indicates that the river has a long way to go before it can be deemed entirely safe for recreational use.
The situation serves as a stark reminder that large-scale environmental cleanup projects are fraught with challenges. The plight of the Seine is emblematic of broader issues that cities worldwide face as they seek to balance environmental concerns with the demands of hosting international events. The eyes of the world are on Paris, and the city’s handling of the Seine’s water quality will be scrutinized closely, not just during the Olympics, but in the years to come.
