Over 10,000 Visitors During the National Holiday Period
More Than 2 Trillion Won Invested in Cleanup Operations
The Seine River, which was opened to the public as a swimming area for the first time in over 100 years, has quickly become a popular attraction, drawing tens of thousands of swimmers within just ten days of opening. On July 16, Yonhap News, citing an announcement from the city of Paris, reported that approximately 20,000 people visited the newly opened Seine swimming pools over the ten-day period. In a press release, the city boasted, "For the first time since swimming was banned 100 years ago, Parisians and visitors alike are once again enjoying swimming in the Seine." The city also noted that more than 12,000 people used the Seine swimming pool during just the weekend and national holiday period from July 12 to 14.
Paris opened swimming pools for the public on the 5th at three locations: the Marais Canal in the city center, the Bercy riverside in the east, and the Grenelle harbor in the west. Photo by AP and Yonhap News
Swimming in the Seine was officially banned in 1923 due to deteriorating water quality, which raised health concerns such as the risk of skin infections caused by pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and enterococci. However, last year, ahead of the Olympic Games, Paris launched a large-scale cleanup operation. The project involved a total investment of 1.4 billion euros (approximately 2.25 trillion won). Large underground storage tanks were also installed to temporarily store contaminated water during heavy rainfall.
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Seine hosted triathlon and open water swimming events. However, at that time, some athletes experienced stomach issues and diarrhea, reigniting concerns about water quality. Since then, Paris has continued to manage water quality, and on July 5, opened swimming pools for the public at three locations: the Marais Canal in the city center, the Bercy riverside in the east, and the Grenelle harbor in the west. The day before the opening, water quality tests conducted by the city rated the water as "excellent," and the city is currently monitoring water quality in real time.
Paris announced that more than 12,000 people used the Seine swimming pool only during the weekend and national holiday period from the 12th to the 14th. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News Agency
At the opening, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stated, "The cleanup of the Seine is not just for the Olympics, but is part of a sustainable urban policy to address climate change and improve the quality of life for citizens." French President Emmanuel Macron described the project as "a source of national pride." The city of Paris evaluated the project as "an ambitious plan to revitalize natural spaces and reestablish the Seine as a symbol of Paris, marking significant progress in improving the well-being of residents."
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