Almost a year before the Olympic Games, the test competition in triathlon with swimming in the Seine began in Paris. The good water quality of the river made it possible to hold the first official triathlon competition in the river, said the prefecture of the capital region Île-de-France.
The original test, in which numerous triathletes took part, served to prepare for the Olympic Games next summer. Until the very end, there was trepidation as to whether the water quality was sufficient for the test. Because at the beginning of August the test of the open water swimmers had to be canceled due to pollution of the river.
Heavy rain had jeopardized tests
Persistent heavy rain had overflowed canals, allowing sewage back into the river and causing a concentration of bacteria. As the city of Paris explained, the Seine had regularly reached the required water quality in recent weeks, but there had not been such extraordinary rainfall since 1965. The Paris Games will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
A new infrastructure is to be provided by next year in order to further improve water treatment in rainy weather and thus the water quality of the Seine. The prefecture said the first competition was an important step in efforts to make swimming in the Seine possible again. From 2025, this will be officially allowed again for the first time in more than 100 years. Three swimming areas are to be prepared for this in the river.