French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra took a symbolic plunge into the Seine River on July 13, 2024, just 13 days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The event was organized to demonstrate the river’s improved water quality and readiness for Olympic events, following a 1.4 billion euro cleanup effort initiated in 2015.Accompanied by Paralympic triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant, Oudéa-Castéra swam several lengths between the Alexandre III bridge and the Invalides. Despite initially slipping on the riverbank, she completed the swim successfully, expressing her excitement: “It’s fabulous. Total happiness. We kept our promise, our commitment”.The Seine is scheduled to host triathlon and marathon swimming events during the Olympics, which will take place from July 26 to August 11. The river’s water quality has been deemed suitable for swimming for 10-11 days since July 1, according to CNEWS.In related Olympic news, Norwegian athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a new European record in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:26.73 minutes in Monaco. Meanwhile, China announced its 716-member delegation for the Paris Games, including 405 athletes and 42 Olympic champions.The Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, set to be the first held on a river, is scheduled for July 26. However, recent high water levels in the Seine have led to the rescheduling of a rehearsal from June 24 to July 16.
Key points
- French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra swam in the Seine River to demonstrate its readiness for Olympic events.
- The Seine has undergone a 1.
- Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a new European record in the 1500 meters.
- China announced a 716-member delegation for the Paris Olympics.
4 billion euro cleanup effort since 2015 to prepare for the Olympics.
