French twist: Paris 2024 organisers refute claims of secret agreement about Seine river races

The Paris Olympics organising committee has rejected claims there are secret contingency plans for open swimming events in the Seine. JULIAN LINDEN reports on the mooted late change.

Olympic athletes whose events are scheduled to take place in the Seine have been warned they may be left waiting until the last minute before knowing if their races will be changed because the river is too dirty to swim in.

According to officials, one proposal involves pushing the open water races back to August 11 - the same day as the Closing Ceremony - but delaying the decision until August 10.

This will frustrate sports and their athletes who have been privately lobbying French and Olympic officials for more notice so competitors can prepare for any late changes.

Sources told this masthead a compromise had been reached in which athletes would get at least 72 hours notice if changes were necessary because the waterway was deemed unsafe to swim in.

But Paris 2024 organisers have since refuted claims of a secret agreement, telling this masthead they had not made any promises to anyone and any impacted athletes would find out the same time as everyone else.

World Aquatics declare contingency plans are in place for Olympics open water races to be held at the Seine River if French officials fail to meet standards and clean up the filthy river.

STORYâ–¶ https://t.co/9AR2B5VOAzpic.twitter.com/nvBsbyGd2R

— CODE Sports (@codesportsau) May 17, 2024

“The concept of a 72-hour notice period is entirely false and we have no idea where this has come from,” a Paris 2024 spokesperson said.

“We also entirely reject the idea that this information was “strategically leaked.” Our priority in communication has been to ensure athletes preparing for the competition are able to do so with certainty and peace of mind.”

The French are notoriously sensitive to any leaked news about the Seine after the government spent billions of taxpayer money on a clean-up campaign.

Sources stand by their claim that an agreement was reached for a 72-hour notice period if authorities are forced to pull the plug on allowing competitors to swim in the Seine, but the hope from all sides is that never happens.

Although tests on the water quality have at times shown to have dangerously high levels of bacteria and other pollutants including human poo, officials remain quietly confident that the levels will improve significantly if it doesn’t rain during the Olympics, eliminating spills of industrial sewage and sanitary overflows into the canals.

Organisers say the contingencies are last-resort plans if the weather conspires against officials.

“We have full confidence in the work undertaken by the State, the City of Paris and all of the relevant authorities to make the Seine swimmable so that the events can take place as planned,” a Paris 2024 spokesperson said.

The stink over dirty river’s deadline

Olympic officials have secretly agreed to a face-saving compromise to spare France from admitting failure on the condition they give at least 72 hours notice if authorities have to pull the plug on their pretentious plan to allow competitors to swim in the Seine.

While the French authorities are still insistent that the marathon swimming and triathlon events can proceed in the famous Paris waterway as promised, senior Olympic and sports authorities are increasingly concerned for the safety of athletes because time is running out to reduce the high levels of pollution and poo in the river.

Athlete representatives have intensified lobbying behind closed doors for a final decision on the Seine to be made public before the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony on July 26, but their pleas have been rejected.

Paris Olympic organisers remain hopeful swimming will take place in the Seine. Picture: Supplied

Instead, a number of major concessions have been agreed that could spare French blushes while reassuring competitors their health won’t be jeopardised or their years of training left to waste.

Speaking only on condition of anonymity because the issue remains so sensitive, informed sources told this masthead that Olympic athletes who are required to swim in the city’s filthy canals could have their events changed, but will be given at least three days warning if that occurs.

The reason for that shortened time frame is because that’s the minimum it takes for the water levels to improve after it rains, which spills industrial sewage and sanitary overflows into the Seine.

As part of that deal, the first details about the back up plans were strategically leaked over the weekend.

The spectacular Alexandre III bridge on the Seine river. Picture: Supplied

It was revealed that the men’s and women’s 10km marathon swimming races, which are due to take place on August 8 and 9, will be relocated to the rowing and canoeing course at the National Olympic Nautical Stadium, about 35 kilometres east of the Eiffel Tower.

It was also disclosed that the triathlon could become a duathlon, featuring just cycling and running but ditching the swimming leg.

Approved from the very top, sources said the need-to-know-only contingency plans have been more than a year in the making and are so highly developed that they can be activated at any time.

The only reason they were not aired sooner was because the French didn’t want to admit they couldn’t fulfil their pledge after spending billions of taxpayer money trying to clean up the foul waterway.

The proposed starting line for the triathlon swimming events in Paris. Picture: Supplied

With just two weeks to go before the Paris Olympics get underway, the issue remains a political hot potato, especially after France’s unpopular President Emmanuel Macron was left having to rule over a hung parliament after calling a snap general election.

One event that won’t change is the Opening Ceremony, which will still take place on the Seine, where swimming has been banned for over a century.

Both French and Olympic officials are holding out hope that the competitive events can also proceed to showcase the beauty of Paris.

But they have at least conceded that it is out of their control and will come down to Mother Nature.

Originally published as French twist: Paris 2024 organisers refute claims of secret agreement about Seine river races