Water recovered for swimmers after a long ban

The hay river in Paris first again opened swimmers since 1923 after a long ban.

The seasonal opening of the hay for swimming is regarded as a key heritage of the Paris 2024, when swimmers and open water triats competed in its waters, which were specially cleaned for the event.

On Saturday morning at 08:00 local time (07:00 BST), several dozen swimmers arrived before opening and plunged into the water when they were able to do it.

The hay has three designated areas for public swimming – one near the Eiffel Tower, another close to the Notra Cathedral and the third in East Paris.

In the zones there are premises, shower and beach furniture that allow up to 300 people to spread towels.

By the end of August, three swimming sites will be opened for free at the planned time for anyone who has a minimum age of 10 or 14 years, depending on the place.

Rescuers will also be present, watching those who are in the river.

The promise to cancel the ban on swimming dates back to 1988, when the then order of Paris and the future President Jacques Chirac advocated their turn.

Improvements over the past 20 years have already led to a sharp decrease in fecal bacteria entering the river.

For 100 years, swimming has been prohibited in the river with the water pollution, which can make people get sick.

On the eve of last summer, the Olympics more than 1.4 billion euros (1.2 billion pounds; 1.6 billion dollars) was invested in the cleaning of hay.

But, on the eve of the games, there were doubts about whether the hay river would be ready for the Olympics after it was discovered that it did not receive water quality tests.

The organizers have accused precipitation of increasing pollution pollution, which limited the ability of athletes to train to triathlon, marathon swimming and paranthetlon.

Last July, Paris Anne Idalal Mayor and other members of the Olympic Committee entered Seine to prove to swim safely.