Paris 2024 triathlon: Would you swim in the Seine?

Parisians and visitors tell the BBC whether they would take a dip in the River Seine.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersWhat's the problem with swimming in the Seine?ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockIt should be a stunning set piece of Paris 2024 - triathletes competing in the River Seine, bringing swimming back to the centre of this city. But concerns about water quality mean the first event has had to be postponed for a day.

Standing on the Pont des Invalides, slightly downstream of the planned starting line, locals and tourists spoke to me about whether they would be tempted to take a dip themselves.

“It's a beautiful river,” said Reda, a Parisian, as he surveyed the Seine glimmering below on a hot July day.

“But I will never dive in, even if they clean it for years."

The Seine has already played a starring role in the Games, having hosted thousands of athletes who took part in a boat parade in Friday night’s rain-soaked opening ceremony.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn05d4k0l2qo

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