Most people are likely to say no to this question, especially those who know Paris and have walked along the banks of the Seine. But Olympic athletes have no choice.
If the swimming marathon and triathlon are held in the Seine as planned, instead of at an alternative location, the option for Olympic athletes will be to swim in the iconic river or withdraw from the Games. Although the organizers of the Paris Olympic Games have promised to clean the river to meet safe swimming standards, with an investment of $1.5 billion, concerns about the cleanliness of the Seine have persisted even in the weeks leading up to the start of the games.
In June, the water still contained large amounts of fecal bacteria – including E. coli, which made it unsafe to swim in – partly due to exceptionally high rainfall.
But as of July 12, water quality met safety standards for at least 10 of the 12 days prior, Agence France-Presse reported, giving hope to triathlon athletes, who compete starting July 30, and the swimming marathon starting August 8.
Last week, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, fulfilled her promise to show that the river was clean enough to host the competitions. Dressed in a wetsuit and goggles, she dove into the river near the imposing City Hall of Paris, her office, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Swimming in the Seine has been prohibited since 1923 due to health risks. In 1990, then-mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, promised to make it clean enough to swim, but failed. But now it seems that the dream may finally become a reality.
If the water quality is not safe for the swimming marathon and triathlon, the Olympic organizers have alternative dates planned and an alternative location – the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, located in the suburbs of Paris and already hosting canoeing, kayaking, and rowing events.
Sources: USA Today and NBC News