Brisbane told to copy Paris’ Olympics disaster with river

A mastermind behind the clean up of the Seine river is urging Brisbane to follow in Paris’ questionable footsteps for the upcoming Olympics.

Brisbane is being urged to follow in Paris’ footsteps and use the river that runs through the city for the 2032 Olympic Games.

That is despite the multiple disasters that unfolded in the Seine throughout the 2024 Games.

A whopping $2.3 billion was plunged into the Seine to make it suitable for athletes competing in the triathlon and open water events.

One of the masterminds behind the project, Benjamin Raigneau, is now calling for Brisbane to do the same with its river.

The suggestion will be a part of Raigneau’s keynote speech when he steps up the podium at the International River Symposium on Thursday.

Despite his pleas to turn the river into a usable venue, Healthy Land and Water chief executive officer Julie McLellan said even though the water quality could be improved, it’s what lives under the surface that would be the bigger issue.

“We can certainly improve the water quality to have ‘swimmable’ qualities,” she said.

“The other pollutants you will see, especially from heavy rain will be fecal contamination from overflows and sewage treatment plants and dog parks.

“It’s tidal so you wouldn’t be jumping in unless you’re an incredibly good swimmer.

“We do have bullsharks in the river.”

Just swim around the bullsharks. Picture: Richard Walker

Another key issue is the disasters that unfolded throughout the Paris Olympics in the Seine.

Despite the eye-opening amount spent to clean up the river, that was banned from swimming for 100 years, unhealthy pollutant levels continually plagued events and caused delays but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Belgian triathlete Jolien Vermeylen shared her disgusting experience by stating: “I felt and saw things that we shouldn’t think about.”

Fellow triathlete Tyler Mislawchuk vomited 10 times after he crossed the line.

Paris’ worst fears however were realised when several athletes were hospitalised after falling seriously ill after swimming in the Seine.

The Seine left several athletes seriously ill. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

While Raigneau is hopeful Brisbane will follow in Paris’ footsteps, it appears more likely the river will be used more as a backdrop than a place for competitions.

“Our hero shots are always the CBD and the river and out to the bay as well … but we are not going to be swimming in the Brisbane River like they did in the Seine,” Brisbane’s deputy mayor Krista Adams said last week.

With the open water swimming event still on the cards, the likely scenario come the 2032 Games is the competition will take place on the Sunshine Coast.

“As a local, when I go swimming, I don’t choose the Brisbane River, so we’ll choose the Gold Coast, we’ll choose the Sunshine Coast,” Riverlife founder John Sharpe said.