Paris Mayor Swims In River Seine To Prove Water Safe For Olympics

Parisians have waited decades to witness a clean Seine, the river that runs through the heart of the city. As the French capital prepares for the 2024 Olympics, tensions are mounting over the government's efforts to clean the river which had been plagued by pollution. However, the city's mayor Anna Hidalgo finally heard their woes and took a dip in the river on July 17 to prove that the water was now cleaned up and safe. This comes weeks after she had scheduled a swim in the river to demonstrate that the government had finally stepped up.

While the Seine was promised to be safe by June 24, Hidalgo postponed her swim until after the French elections, a decision that has fueled public frustration. In response, Parisians threatened a unique form of protest: defecating in the river. This movement, rallying under the hashtag #JeChieDansLaSeineLe23Juin ("I shit in the Seine on 23 June"), reflects widespread discontent over the city's priorities. 

Anna Hidalgo Swims In The Seine

“It’s a dream day … and the sun is out,” Hidalgo said after swimming 100 metres downstream in 20C (68F) water. “It’s sweet and wonderful and the result of a lot of work," the mayor commented. Tony Estanguet, the president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, congratulated city hall and the French authorities for making the river safe for swimming.

"Today we have confirmation that the Seine is swimmable and that the triathlon and marathon swimming competitions can take place in it. As organisers we’re very happy to be able to offer athletes the best conditions … but over and above that what is at play is using the Games to speed up the transformation of the city and make it possible to swim in the Seine.”

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

The Roots of Discontent

The anonymous creator of the protest website explained to news outlet Actu Paris that the issue goes beyond just the state of the river. "The problem is that all the resources that have been invested have not been to resolve all the social problems we have at the moment," he said.

A website supporting the protest features the slogan, "They have plunged us into shit, it's their turn to plunge into our shit," highlighting the anger directed at city officials. With over €1.4 billion (£1.2 billion) spent on cleaning the Seine, many Parisians felt neglected and abandoned, seeing this massive expenditure as a misallocation of funds that could address pressing social issues.

A recent report revealed that the water in the Seine still contains high levels of faecal bacteria, including E.coli, failing to meet the standards required for the Olympic Games. This revelation, just weeks before the first scheduled triathlon event, represents the challenges in making the river safe for swimmers.

Broader Olympic Controversies

The Olympics have sparked various other controversies in Paris. Residents are bracing for increased transport costs during the Games, and the city's efforts to clear homeless encampments have led to accusations of attempting to "hide poverty." Additionally, students have been displaced to accommodate Olympic workers, further straining the city's social fabric.