Paris is set to host the 2024 Olympics in a matter of weeks but its open water swimming venues are in horrible condition after heavy rains throughout the month of May. As a result, the Parisian poop protest was postponed because French officials refused to swim in The Seine because of “political reasons.”
It certainly seems like a convenient excuse to avoid swimming in sewage!
The Seine, for those who don’t know, is a “river” or “channel” that runs through the heart of Paris. Technically speaking, it is actually a drainage basin that runs 483 miles through most of northern France. You’ve probably seen it before.
The Seine is going to be a focal point of the upcoming Olympic Games. Not only will it host a portion of the Opening Ceremonies, it is supposed to hold the open water swimming events— like a portion of the triathlon, a mixed-team relay race and the 10,000-meter. “Supposed to” are the key words there.
Swimming in the Seine has been illegal for more than 100 years due to high pollution levels.
Old city pipes that connect to the city’s sewage system are often overwhelmed during long periods of rain. As a result, sewage enters into the Seine when it rains hard. Sewage obviously creates pollution, which leads to an unhealthy amount of bacteria in the water.
The French government is slated to spend approximately $1.5 billion on a cleanup effort in preparation for the Games. That includes regular testing of the Seine’s bacteria levels.
Results of the tests that were conducted in mid-June recently came back with poor results. Paris region official Marc Guillaume said at a press conference on Friday that the Seine is still too polluted to swim.
There is no doubt that the quality of water today is not up to par.
— Marc Guillaume
Contrary to public belief, those in charge remain confident that conditions will improve as the subsides in the coming weeks. A test swim took place without major issue in August last summer, even though it was still pretty gross.
Officials expect to hold the events as planned.
At one point or another, the weather will change. It’s going to stop raining and we’re going to have sunshine […]
It is in summer conditions that we must be able to examine swimmability.
— Marc Guillaume
The first Paris Olympics swimming events in the Seine are scheduled to take place on July 30. Participants would prefer to start training sooner than later. That is not currently possible.
Paris’ poop protest is postponed.
As the Olympics quickly approach, Parisian officials are scrambling to get the Seine up to standard. Many people, including the Olympians, have doubts and concerns. Swimming in poor conditions could cause serious health issues.
E. Coli bacteria is most prominently found in the Seine right now. While it not typically pathogenic by itself, E. Coli can indicate the presence of other dangerous pathogens. They could cause rashes, gastrointestinal issues and diseases, or even death.
Obviously, nobody wants to swim in water that poses those risks.
To prove that the water is safe, French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo vowed to swim in the Seine before the Olympics. Their exhibit was initially scheduled for Sunday.
In protest to the massive government spending, poor Olympic conditions and the presidential plunge, Parisians planned ‘Je Chie Dans La Seine Le 23 Juin.’ It loosely translates to ‘I s— in the Seine on June 23.’ A website was created to assist with the protest and calculates by distance when a person would need to defecate in the Seine for all of the waste to arrive at Macron and Hidalgo’s point of entry at the same time.
Neither the swim nor the protest took place as planned.
Hidalgo pushed back her dip in the Seine due to early legislative elections. She will instead jump into the water “on the 15th, 16th or 17th of July depending on the weather.” We shall see…
Regardless of whether Hidalgo’s excuse is valid or not, the delay undoubtedly stemmed (at least in part) from the current conditions. The water is brown.
The Seine is not currently swimmable.
Time is of the essence for Paris and France to get the Seine ready to go. Should that not be possible, the triathlon will become a duathlon. Open water swim events may not happen at all. There is no Plan B.