the technical test of the boats for the opening ceremony postponed due to the current flow of the Seine

The technical test of the boats for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, which was to take place on Monday May 27, is postponed due to the current flow of the Seine, indicates the prefect of the Ile-de-France region, Marc Guillaume, at France Bleu Paris.

“At the moment, the flow of the Seine is around 600m3/second. In July, we should have 100 to 150 m3”explains the prefect to France Bleu Paris. “We can rehearse in conditions of up to 200 or 300 m3 but it makes no sense to rehearse in conditions that are too different from those we will have this summer”.

For the moment, a new date for this technical test has not been announced by the authorities. “Everything is organized so that we have several fallback dates (…) For now, it is better to try to train in the conditions that we should have this summer”adds Marc Guillaume.

A dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony is scheduled for June 17, a little over a month before the official ceremony. On July 26, between 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., 180 boats will parade between the Pont d’Austerlitz and the Pont d’Iéna. The river parade will be followed by 326,000 spectators spread along the quays.