Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made headlines recently when she took a swim in the Seine River to showcase the city’s efforts to clean up the waterway ahead of the 2024 Olympics. The move was part of a larger initiative to improve water quality in the river, which has long been plagued by pollution.
Hidalgo’s swim was not just a publicity stunt – it was a tangible demonstration of the progress that Paris has made in cleaning up the Seine. In recent years, the city has implemented a number of measures to reduce pollution in the river, including upgrading wastewater treatment plants, reducing runoff from streets and buildings, and increasing monitoring of water quality.
The efforts have paid off, with water quality in the Seine steadily improving over the past decade. In fact, the river is now clean enough for swimming in certain areas, a far cry from its reputation as a polluted waterway.
The push to clean up the Seine is not just about aesthetics – it is also a key part of Paris’ bid to host the 2024 Olympics. The city is hoping to showcase its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship by hosting a green games, and cleaning up the Seine is a crucial part of that effort.
Hidalgo’s swim was a bold statement of confidence in Paris’ ability to host a successful and environmentally-friendly Olympics. By taking a dip in the Seine, she showed that the city is serious about its commitment to clean water and sustainable practices – and that Paris is ready to welcome the world in 2024.
