2023-08-06 12:42:55
After a final night meeting between the organizing committee, the city of Paris and the sports federations to study the latest analyzes of the water of the Seine, the decision was taken not to dive the swimmers and swimmers from the Alexandre bridge. III, right in the center of Paris, for this World Cup event.
Published on: 06/08/2023 – 12:42
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First failure to test the Paris Olympics and the water of the Seine: the open water swimming competition scheduled for this weekend had to be completely canceled this Sunday August 6th due to the pollution of the river. The reason: the heavy rains that fell earlier this week caused the sewers to overflow and brought the wastewater back into the river. But the authorities ensure that they remain confident in view of the Games.
« We are all disappointed this morning, first for the athletes and for the organization of the event. It happened a few hours “, reacted Pierre Rabadan, deputy for Sports, Olympics and Seine of the town hall of Paris, in front of the empty pontoons. While the weather is gradually improving, he assured that, according to real-time readings from the town hall, the quality of the water in the Seine was “ Good this Sunday morning.
But the decision was made based on an analysis of the bacteria Escherichia coli dating back 24 hours, with a concentration that was still beyond the limit threshold: at 1,300 CFU/100 ml, where the international swimming federation World Aquatics imposes a rate of less than 1,000. Since Thursday, the French Federation of swimming (FFN), together with World Aquatics, pointed to a water quality below acceptable standards “, and had canceled training before postponing the women’s event from Saturday to Sunday.
“Health, a priority”
World Aquatics said on Sunday “ disappointed that the water quality leads to the cancellation of this World Cup ». « But the health of athletes must always be our first priority. “, said Husain Al-Musallam, its president, quoted by the press release issued early Sunday morning.
For four daysthe Cojo, the city of Paris, or even the prefecture of the Ile-de-France region stress for their part that the precipitation is “ exceptionals” for the season. The latter had nevertheless taken a decree on July 27 to authorize, in principle, the competition, based on 42 water analysis results from June and July. “ Water quality will continue to be carefully monitored, in the confident hope, based on current weather forecasts, that top athletes will be able to compete in the Seine, during the Triathlon and Para Test Event. Triathlon scheduled for August 17-20 “, explained the organizing committee.
A new disappointment in ten days would be worrying for the organizers, but also for the city of Paris whose mayor Anne Hidalgo promises future swimming in the Seine for 2025. This Sunday morning, despite the disappointed looks, both the Cojo and the mayor of Paris and the prefecture were confident for this next attempt.
“Plan B? The Seine “
The scenario of heavy rains was feared by all the players and, with a view to the Games, several projects are underway to try to counter this risk. A pond is still under construction in Austerlitz. It will store rainwater – 50,000 m3 – and will operate in 2024. But beware, warned, in diplomatic language, World Aquatics: “ continue to work with Paris 2024 and local authorities to ensure robust contingency plans are in place for next year ».
Asked whether the organizing committee was going to review its plans for the Olympics, and plan a plan B, Brigitte Légaré, head of competitions in central Paris, explained on Sunday that the competition in the Seine would be held at the end of the Olympics. and that it would be possible to shift it from a day ” if necessary.
Is a plan B possible elsewhere than in the Seine? ” No, plan B is that we go swimming in the Seine, assured Brigitte Légaré. I am confident, I have been working with the authorities for four years on the subject here in Paris and I see the evolution, we will get there. »
(With AFP)
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