Paris to allow swimming in river Seine after 100 years ban

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Paris is planning on allowing swimming in the River Seine, following a massive, years-long cleanup effort as it gears up for the 2024 Olympic Games. Paris had banned swimming in Seine in 1923 due to excessive water pollution. Locals will be allowed to swim in three separate parts of the river — Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle and Bercy. It will opened for them from 2025. On July 26, 2024, the opening ceremony of the Olympics will take place on the Seine, instead of the traditional stadium venue of past games. Three Olympic and Paralympic events — triathlon, marathon swimming and Para-triathlon is also scheduled to take place in the Seine. “At the Paris 2024 Games, the athletes will inaugurate swimming in the river with the Olympic events. A revival that will pave the way for aquatic leisure,” reads a statement from Paris city hall published July 10. The city hall also revealed that the bathing zones will be easily accessible, with pontoons and facilities on the quaysides for swimmers to change, shower, and keep their belongings secure.

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Swimming was banned in river Seine in 1923 because of the filthy water. The water quality saw a decline because of the industrial sewage being dumped into it. By 1960s, only three species of fish were recorded in the city. Work to cleanup Seine has been underway for seven years now and at a cost of 1.4 billion-euro ($1.55-billion). The French government has setup two disinfection units at wastewater treatment plants which will be run by the Paris region public sanitation. The