The first triathlon training session was scheduled to take place today at the Seine, but it was cancelled.
Photo: REUTERS.
Before the Olympics, French authorities sent Sports Minister Amelie Oudea Caster and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to swim in the Seine to prove that the $1.5 billion cleanup of the river was a success. They cleaned it up for a triathlon competition (an event that includes open-water swimming, cycling and running). But officials grimaced as they waded into the murky waters. The triathletes’ first training session on the Seine was due to take place today, but it was cancelled: there was too much mud in the river.
The organisers explained this by saying that the water was contaminated by the rains that fell on Thursday and Friday. The statement says: “There are no sufficient guarantees of cleanliness.” But the athletes have sworn that the competition will take place as planned. However, the weather forecast for that week again indicates rain.
To clean up the Seine, sewage treatment plants were modernised, all barges moored in the sewers were connected and plastic waste was collected. A huge sewage reservoir was also dug next to Austerlitz railway station.
Didn’t they foresee that all their efforts could go down the drain because of the rains? They did, of course. But the possible disruption of the triathlon is not so important. The main thing is that the money was spent. Perhaps we will find out whose pockets it really went into after the Olympics.
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