According to AFP on February 29, France's Macron promised on Thursday that he would swim in the Seine, highlighting the effectiveness of managing the Seine for the Paris Olympics.
Macron smiled at the unveiling of the Olympic Village in northern Paris on Thursday and told reporters: "I will swim, but I won't tell you the exact date, otherwise you will all be going to watch it." ”
The French authorities are in a race against time to improve the water quality of the Seine. During the Paris Olympics from July 26 to August 11, the Seine will be used for open water swimming and triathlon competitions.
France has spent 1.4 billion euros to upgrade sewage and stormwater runoff treatment facilities in the Paris region to improve water quality on the Seine and its main tributary, the Marne.
Organizers admit that, despite this, the three test matches scheduled for the Seine were forced to cancel due to the discovery of an elevated E. coli index in human waste, and that heavy rains before the Olympics could also have caused the games to be canceled.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also promised to bring the river's water level down before the Olympics.
The mayor's office plans to create 3 public baths on the Seine after the Olympics, making it legal to swim in the Seine. Swimming in the Seine has been banned in Paris since 1923.
"For the people of the Paris region, we will have the Seine and the Marne, with a changed image and use," Macron added. He also called it an "important legacy" of the Games.
The Seine will play a central role during the Paris Olympics, where the grand opening ceremony is scheduled for July 26. At the opening ceremony, the sports delegations will sail by boat on this historically important river. (Compiled by Hu Jing).