Officials have approved the Seine River in Paris as safe for athletes to swim in after conducting last-minute water quality tests. This allowed triathlon events to go ahead as scheduled, with British and French athletes claiming gold medals. Despite concerns about the polluted waterway, athletes praised the strength of the current more than the water quality. The Seine had been undergoing testing for E. coli and fecal matter indicators, with previous concerns about water quality leading to event cancellations. The historic river has been off-limits for swimming for over a century due to pollution, prompting a $1.5 billion cleanup effort ahead of the Olympics. Despite ongoing weather challenges affecting pollution levels, organizers have been working to ensure the safety of athletes competing in the water. Athletes have expressed trust in race organizers to monitor and address water quality concerns, with experts highlighting the environmental contamination issues common in urban areas. The challenges faced in ensuring the Seine was clean for the Olympics shed light on broader issues of waste management and environmental contamination worldwide. This saga serves as a reminder that managing pollution in urban waterways is a complex and ongoing challenge.
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Triathletes test the waters of the Seine for Paris Olympics after last-minute safety check
