Officials in a French city have celebrated a “historic day” as the Olympic triathlon competitions took place in the River Seine, just a day after it was declared unsafe for swimming.
Water quality tests confirmed that the men’s and women’s competitions could proceed on Wednesday morning, leading to a triumphant outcome for both the city and the French athletes, who secured medals in both the women’s and men’s events.
Pierre Rabadan, a former French rugby star and currently the deputy mayor of Paris responsible for sports and the Olympics, described the event as a “historic day for Paris and the Olympics … as well as for ecology and the environment.
“We have encountered skepticism for several years, and this morning stood as the best response. We committed to holding the triathlon in the River Seine a decade ago, and we accomplished it,” Rabadan remarked.
He continued: “It was a challenge; we had a plan, we adhered to it, and it was rewarding that we did, as we succeeded.”
The men’s triathlon was called off at the last moment on Tuesday when the water did not meet quality standards. However, after overnight rain, the races were back on Wednesday morning as the water was classified as “satisfactory” for both the men’s and women’s triathlons. Samples collected from four locations at the Olympic site showed bacteria levels, including E. coli, well below the international safety limits.
When asked about the sudden improvement in water quality, Rabadan attributed it to rising temperatures and sunshine. “We don’t take risks with anyone’s health, particularly not that of athletes. This isn’t a game; it’s a scientific process, and we adhere to the regulations. There’s no question of a conspiracy. We are addressing facts,” he said.
Antoine Guillou, a deputy mayor overseeing waste management, sanitation, and cleanliness for the city, noted that for over a century—during which swimming in the Seine was prohibited—the river had acted as an overflow for the sewage system.
“We have reversed over a century of history in which the Seine was nearly treated like a sewer. This is an enormous source of satisfaction for us. We took a gamble, and it paid off. A symbolic threshold has been crossed,” he remarked.
Earlier this month, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo joined 100 athletes, officials, and local residents in taking a swim in the river after a series of tests confirmed its safety.
The extensive clean-up effort, which cost €1.4 billion (£1.2 billion), involved connecting over 300 boats docked along the Seine to the city’s sewage system and constructing a vast holding and treatment facility to manage stormwater that would typically flow into the river during heavy rainfall.
