“We will all be keen to dive into the Seine”, assures the Minister of Sports

“We will all want to dive into the Seine”assured Thursday March 14 on franceinfo the Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, questioned about the commitment made by Emmanuel Macron to swim in the river. “Yes, I will”, the Head of State responded to journalists during the inauguration of the Olympic village on February 29, without however giving the date of his dive. The president then stressed that the possibility offered to Ile-de-France residents to swim in the Seine in the summer of 2025 will be “an important legacy” of the next Olympics. The opening of three swimming areas is planned in Paris: Bercy, Grenelle and between Île Saint-Louis and the Marais.

“It is a vast project which is being carried out with enormous energy”welcomes Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. “Jacques Chirac had promised [une promesse restée lettre morte], Emmanuel Macron gave us the framework and the means to achieve this. We are investing 1.4 billion euros collectively, 700 million which are supported by the State, with an action plan which is led by the prefect of the Île-de-France region. We will be there”she says.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra also tries to reassure about the organization of triathlon and open water swimming events. The risk of pollution of the Seine, due for example to a very intense rainy episode, was well anticipated, according to the minister. Of the “contingency days that allow this type of hazard to be accommodated” are provided. Concretely, “there’s a little bit of leeway” on the holding of these tests.