High-diving into the Seine tests Paris' effort to reclaim the river for sport
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Paris is hosting its first high-diving competition in the Seine River, with athletes diving from a 20-meter platform near the Eiffel Tower as part of efforts to reclaim the river for sport.
- Training was briefly suspended due to hydrocarbon contamination detected upstream, but the area was treated and the event proceeded as planned.
- The event is part of the 38th European Aquatics Championships, running through August 16, which also features swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and open-water swimming.
- Paris has invested €1.4 billion to clean the Seine and make it safe for swimming, a goal accelerated by the 2024 Olympics, with public swimming officially returning in 2025 after a century-long ban.
- City officials aim to transform the Seine into a multifunctional space for recreation and sport while maintaining its roles in commerce and tourism, promoting physical activity as part of daily Parisian life.
