Furious Parisians threaten to defecate in River Seine in Olympics protest
Locals have threatened a bizarre protest ahead of the Olympics in Paris over their fury at a $2.2 billion problem.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Furious Parisians have threatened to defecate in the River Seine ahead of this summer’s Olympics.
Protesters fumed “it’s their turn to plunge into our s***” as they protested against the costs of cleaning the water.
Event organisers are in a desperate bid to make the water safe enough to swim in before the Games begin on July 26.
The Seine is set to host triathlon and open water swimming events as well as playing a part in the opening ceremony.
However, just over five weeks before the first triathlon event on July 30, protesters have threatened to defecate in the water.
They have rallied using the hashtag “I s*** in the Seine on 23 June”.
A website has also been set up with the slogan: “They have plunged us into s***, it’s their turn to plunge into our s***.”
June 23 had been the date mayor Anne Hidalgo was set to swim in the Seine to prove the water was clean enough for Olympic athletes.
However, her dip has been delayed until after the French elections in July.
Meanwhile, no date has been given for president Emmanuel Macron to fulfil his promise of a swim before the start of the Games.
Over A$2.2 billion has been spent trying to make the water safe enough to swim in, enraging locals.
The anonymous programmer behind the website told Actu Paris: “The problem is that all the resources that have been invested have not been to resolve all the social problems we have at the moment.
“We have the feeling of being abandoned. We see where their priority was.”
Although the dirty protests had started as a joke, the programmer added: “Nothing is excluded.”
Despite the cost of the cleaning operation, a report published on Friday showed the water was still too dirty for swimming at the Olympics.
Water samples showed high rates of faecal bacteria, including E.coli, in the water, which did not meet the standards set by event organisers.
- This article first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission
Originally published as Furious Parisians threaten to defecate in River Seine in Olympics protest
‘Never had’: Bruce loses it over Gout Gout
Legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney has seen it all in Australian sports but our latest rising athletics star is a different beast.
‘World at his feet’: Australia’s never seen anything like Gout Gout
Bruce McAvaney has seen so much in Australian track and field throughout his broadcasting career, but nothing compares to what teen sprinting sensation Gout Gout is doing at his age.