French charity sounds alarm about Seine ahead of Olympics

Surfrider Foundation warns of Seine River pollution ahead of Paris Olympics, raising concerns for athletes' safety.

A French water charity sounded the alarm on April 8 about pollution in the Seine just over 100 days before the start of the Olympics when the river is set to be used for swimming events.

Surfrider Foundation said it had analysed six months of tests over winter undertaken by a laboratory and had concluded that the river water remained polluted and potentially dangerous.

In an open letter, the Biarritz-based charity said it "wanted to share with stakeholders its rising concerns about the quality of the Seine but also the risks faced by athletes moving in contaminated water."

Also Read | France asks for foreign police and military help with massive Paris Olympics security challenge

Paris authorities are in a race against time to clean up the Seine before the start of the Olympics on July 26, with the famed waterway set to play a starring role during the Games.

It is expected to host the opening ceremony, and will then be used for the marathon swimming events and the triathlon — pollution permitting.

Cleaning up the Seine has been promoted as one the key legacy achievements of the Paris 2024 Games, with mayor Anne Hidalgo intending to create three public bathing areas in the river next year.