France’s Minister of Sports and the Olympics and Paralympics, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, took a dip in the river Seine ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024. It was a symbolic dive to show that the river is safe and clean for hosting swimming events.
French Sports Minister swims at Seine
The Sports Minister dived into the river with para-triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant, who will be the host nation France’s flag-bearer at the Paralympics opening ceremony. Oudéa-Castéra wore a bodysuit to fulfill her earlier pledge to dive into the river after it gets clean.
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Seine was banned from swimming due to pollution
Swimming in the Seine had been banned since 1923 due to dangerous pollution levels. However, Paris Olympics officials have promised to clean the river for the events. As a plan B, if the river does not meet the standards to host swimming events, the triathlon will be converted to a duathlon without a swimming segment.
