Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo declared that the Seine River is clean enough for Olympic swimmers despite being banned for more than 100 years. The city spent $1.5 billion to clean up the river in preparation for the Olympics and to ensure a cleaner environment for Parisians afterward. Water tests in early June initially showed unsafe levels of E. coli, but subsequent readings have improved. Hidalgo personally tested the water on July 17 and deemed it “wonderful” for swimmers.
However, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, France’s high-speed rail network fell victim to “malicious acts” that disrupted service. The attacks targeted several TGV lines and were condemned by French Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete as criminal actions that would impact holiday travel plans for many French citizens. The national rail operator, SNCF, worked to restore service after the incident.
The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris is set to be the most ambitious in history, with the Parade of Nations taking place on the Seine River instead of in a stadium. Over 10,000 athletes will sail down the river on boats for their grand entrance to the Games. The ceremony, designed by artistic director Thomas Jolly, will start at the Austerlitz Bridge and end near the Eiffel Tower, passing iconic landmarks like the Louvre and Notre-Dame de Paris. Viewers can watch the ceremony live on NBC, Peacock, and NBC Olympics apps at 1:30 p.m. ET and during prime time at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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