Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Wednesday that the city has achieved its goal of making the River Seine swimmable. This milestone was celebrated as both the men's and women's triathlon events were able to proceed after being delayed due to concerns about water quality.
Hidalgo expressed her satisfaction with the successful cleanup of pollution in the river, stating, 'We won our bet - the pollution has been cleaned up.' She credited the newly built infrastructure for enabling the events to take place despite recent storms, emphasizing that the water quality was deemed 'very good' on the morning of the races.
For years, the River Seine had been stigmatized as being akin to a sewer, but Hidalgo highlighted the city's determination to change this perception. She described the transformation as a mission that many believed to be 'impossible,' making the achievement even more significant.
Reflecting on the challenges faced, Hidalgo expressed her relief and happiness at the successful outcome, dispelling any doubts about the city's ability to accomplish this feat. The mayor's unwavering confidence in the project's success was evident as she shared her optimism throughout the process.
In the sporting arena, France's Cassandre Beaugrand claimed the gold medal in the women's triathlon event, while Alex Yee delivered a remarkable performance to secure the gold for Team GB in the men's competition.
