Banned since 1923, swimming in the Seine must be reauthorized in the capital after the Olympic Games which it will host in the summer of 2024. A demanding challenge, both because of the waste floating on the surface of the river and health risks.
Of all the Olympic promises, this is one of the most spectacular: the return of swimming in the Seine. First, the athletes in 2024, long-distance swimmers and triathletes under the Alexandre III bridge, then the general public the following year. Paris wants to take a dip in the past. Back to before 1923 and the ban on swimming in the river. If swimming is currently impossible, it is because of pollution.
Surface waste and bacteria
When young canoe athletes put their heads under water in the Seine, the health authorities recommend a soapy shower to avoid skin problems. However, at the idea of swimming in the river after the Olympics, everyone is enthusiastic. More than the waste on the surface, it is the bacteria that come from feces that are the problem. But according to samplers, enormous progress has been made over the past 30 years.
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