The Blue Community / Blue City Paris makes headlines around the globe ahead of the Olympics. It has been the dream and promise of Paris mayors for decades and a nightmare for Olympic organisers: could the Seine be cleaned up enough to swim in and hold triathlon and other events? For the last 100 years and up until a few days ago, the answer seemed to be no.
On Wednesday, however, the city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, kept her promise that it would be and she would be one of the first in. To cheers and applause, she led a group of about 10 officials, athletes and local people by donning a swimsuit and taking a dip in the river after a barrage of tests showed it was finally safe.
