Paris 2024 Olympic Games: “On the 15th, 16th or 17th depending on the weather”, Anne Hidalgo will swim in the Seine in mid-July

La maire de Paris va enfiler le maillot de bain. MAXPPP – Bruno Levesque

La maire de Paris Anne Hidalgo, qui a reporté son plongeon historique dans la Seine en raison des élections législatives anticipées, s'y baignera finalement la semaine du 15 juillet, a-t-elle annoncé mercredi.

The socialist elected official promised to swim in the river before the Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11) which are to be held there, and which are always threatened in the event of heavy rain, synonymous with pollution.

The mayor of the host city will swim “after July 14, on the 15th, 16th or 17th depending on the weather“, she declared during a progress report on the Olympic Games, disrupted by the announcement of the dissolution of the National Assembly.

“The Olympic Games of Paris will be open to the world"

This one "does not change anything in the opening ceremony" for which "there is no plan B", said the mayor of Paris. The opening ceremony, an unprecedented nautical parade on the Seine, is to be held on July 26, three weeks after the second round of legislative elections. Asked about the consequences that the arrival of an extreme right government could have during the Paris Olympics, Ms. Hidalgo said she was fighting " so that the RN does not gain power".

"I will neither be in denial nor in flight, I will assume this role as I have always assumed it&quot ;, she added. "The Paris Games will be open to the world", said the mayor "d&# 39;a city which despite chaotic and troubled times is a city of hope.

Anne Hidalgo annonce qu'elle se baignera dans la Seine la semaine du 15 juillet pic.twitter.com/wBdTA2UBoG

— BFM Paris Île-de-France (@BFMParis) June 19, 2024

"Come, it's a place where we will keep breathing", said the& #39;elected to answer the questions of those "who are worried about the French situation".

His deputy for sport and the Olympics, Pierre Rabadan, recognized that the organization of the legislative elections "raises a certain number of technical and operational questions& quot; for the Olympic Games, in particular on the involvement of municipal agents for the two events. "We could have done without this dissolution at that time", commented Ms. Hidalgo.