Paris is dressing up at breakneck speeds to host the world’s top athletes this July. As the host of the Paris Olympics 2024, the French capital is scurrying to get the last-minute preparations in order so that the visitors don’t feel an iota of discomfort during their stay. Amidst all the fiasco, the iconic Seine River is at the center of things with its possibility of being the first off-stadium Opening Ceremony venue in history and Paris’ riverboat captains are over the moon about the prospect it brings to the table. But things might not be so simple after all.

The French authorities have grand plans in place to make the water body swimmable after years of concerns about its conditions. Now, as the century-old ban on swimming in the Seine is finally lifted, the city’s riverboat veterans’ glee, over their part in the Olympics, might turn into a nightmare.

In a recent article by Reuters, the ecstatic emotions of Khalid Driouech have been shared along with his pride in representing the country at the grand event. Driouech is among the 94 Seine riverboat captains who have the responsibility of transporting athletes and delegations at the Opening Ceremony. However, the river water’s current conditions aren’t helping the captain’s “unique opportunity” or the “great pleasure” he felt after learning the news.

Two pre-Olympic events were canceled last year with excessive E. coli bacteria being detected in Seine. On top of that, several lab results have concluded that the yellow-brown water remains incredibly polluted. However, both the Paris mayor and the French president vowed to take a dip in the river themselves to prove its safety. And yet, for riverboat captains like Khalid, it remains to be seen if their time at the forefront indeed pans out when the event finally arrives.

A daunting task ahead for the Paris Olympics 2024

But the Seine isn’t the only thing that’s keeping the Frenchmen on their toes. Logistical and other issues have also stalled the completion of the Eiffel Tower’s new paint job, and whether it will be ready before the visitors start pouring in has become a race against time. COVID-19 didn’t help either, with 9 whole months of practically no work getting done. Fortunately, the Olympic Village has kept up with the stringent schedules and is now ready to house athletes from all over the world. On top of that, the prospect of the Seine playing the ring for this year’s open water Olympic events, Paris promises to be something truly breathtaking to the world.

However, it’s still not confirmed if the Opening Ceremony will indeed be held on the river. The transportation network of the city will also have to face unexpected pressure and challenges over the course of a few months when the Olympic gold medal hopefuls and their fans take over the French capital.

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