Paris Olympics Swimming Test Event Gets Cancelled Due to Excessive Pollution in Seine River

A swimming competition that was supposed to serve as an open water test event ahead of the Paris Olympics was called off due to poor water quality in the Seine River, questioning the plan of the French government to clean it up before the summer of 2024.

Too Polluted to Swim In

World Aquatics, the international governing body for swimming and water sports, was forced to cancel the Open Water Swimming World Cup due to take place on August 6. The decision was made in consultation with the public health authorities and the French Swimming Federation (FFN).

Since August 4, the training for the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup had been canceled, while the women's race was postponed from August 4 to August 6 in the hope that the water quality in the river would improve.

The above-average rainfall in July caused the sewers to overflow, polluting the Seine River with wastewater. Analysis of the latest water samples revealed that the water quality in the Seine River has remained below acceptable standards that will ensure the safety of the swimmers.

World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam expressed disappointment over the cancellation. However, he also recognizes that the health of the athletes must always be their top priority.

Olympic organizers understand that more preparations are needed for the Paris 2024 Olympics, particularly the completion of infrastructure projects needed to improve the water quality in the Seine. Local government officials are also expected to make sound contingency plans for next summer.

Despite the incident, World Aquatics remain confident that the river will be better prepared for swimmers when the 2024 Olympics starts. The organizing committee also ensures that contingency measures are underway.

A Swimmable Seine

The 2024 Olympics will not be the first time to feature the Seine River. In 1900, multiple swimming events were held in its waters when Paris hosted an international sporting event. However, swimming in this river has been banned since 1923 to protect the swimmers from hazardous conditions such as currents, river traffic, and water pollution.

In July 2023, government authorities in Paris announced their plans to bring swimming back to the Seine River 100 years after the ban. Using a 1.2-billion-pound fund, restoration projects have been taking place to make city swimming one of the significant legacies of the Olympics.

Since 2018, cleanup efforts have been conducted by the local authorities in the Seine River. For instance, two disinfection units at wastewater treatment plants will be run by the Paris region public sanitation service starting the summer of this year. Infrastructures such as rainwater storage basins are also being constructed to help in improving water quality.

For the 2024 Olympics, Paris plans to make the Seine River the event's centerpiece. It will be featured in the opening ceremony, while game categories such as swimming, para-triathlon, and triathlon are scheduled to be conducted in its waters. By 2025, three open-air swimming areas along the Seine River will be made accessible to the public.