2024-04-09 13:02:04
The current state of the Seine does not allow water sports competitions to be held during the Paris Olympics.
According to Day.Az, this conclusion was reached by the French environmental NGO Surfrider Europe, which spoke with statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“We cannot agree to hold swimming competitions or any events in the Seine due to its current state,” conservationists point out. “We consider it absolutely unacceptable to risk the health of participants in the Olympic Games.”
Representatives of the organization note that they have been monitoring water in the Seine since September 2023. “14 samples were taken for testing in an independent laboratory. None of them meet European standards regarding water quality,” the message states.
The Seine was scheduled to host the Open Water Swimming World Cup in August 2023. This competition was supposed to be preparation for the Olympic Games. However, the competition was canceled due to excessive levels of water pollution in the capital’s river. At the same time, the Paris mayor’s office assures that it is doing everything possible to make the Seine suitable for swimming. In February of this year, French President Emmanuel Macron said at the opening of the Olympic Village that he was ready to swim in the Seine.
The Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
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