Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Take the Plunge in the River Seine
In a bold move to demonstrate the safety of the River Seine for swimming, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced her plans to take a swim in the historic river this June. The mayor’s confident gesture aims to reassure Parisians that the Seine is clean and ready for recreational use, especially ahead of the upcoming Olympics.
The announcement came as Hidalgo inaugurated the Georges Vallerey swimming pool, which is set to serve as a training facility for Olympic swimmers and Paralympic triathletes. With the city abuzz with Olympic preparations, Hidalgo has pinpointed June 23, a day dedicated to celebrating the Olympics, as the likely date for her swim.
Paris has been investing in efforts to rejuvenate the Seine, aspiring to return it to its former glory when it was a swimming venue during the 1900 Paris Olympics. However, a setback occurred last summer when a sewer issue led to the cancellation of a pre-Olympic swimming event. In response, the city is taking concrete steps to prevent future pollution, including the unveiling of a new storage basin designed to hold 46,000 cubic meters of wastewater.
“The big dive will be a big moment,” Hidalgo stated, expressing her belief that this event will change public perception and prove the river’s cleanliness. Deputy Mayor for Sports Pierre Rabadan, who swam in the Seine last summer, serves as living proof that the water is indeed safe.
With open water swimming and triathlon events scheduled to take place in the River Seine during the Paris Olympics, all eyes will be on Mayor Hidalgo’s swim as a testament to the city’s commitment to environmental health and public enjoyment.
