Three new natural bathing areas on the Seine River—Bras Marie, Bercy, and Grenelle—officially opened to the public on Saturday, just over a year after athletes crossed the river during the triathlon and open-water swimming events at the Paris Olympics. Until the end of August, around 1,000 people a day will be able to enjoy these areas, which offer clean water and safe access, becoming a lasting symbol of what the Games can bring when they align with a city’s long-term vision.
These areas not only provide a place to cool off in the height of summer, but also represent the result of a profound transformation that has restored the Seine to its central role in Parisian life. The opening of these spaces reflects a project that goes far beyond sport and has changed the city’s relationship with its river.
The transformation of the Seine throughout its history
The Seine was much more than a sporting venue during Paris 2024. It hosted the Opening Ceremony, with thousands of athletes sailing in a flotilla of boats, and served as the backdrop for several competitions. However, the real transformation took place beneath the surface.
A century ago, swimming in the Seine was part of everyday life in Paris, but the practice was banned in 1923 due to pollution. The first efforts to restore the river began in the 1990s, and in 2015 the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority announced a plan to make the Seine suitable for swimming again in time for the Olympic Games. Action was taken on the sewerage system, rainwater runoff, and wastewater discharges, which were the main causes of pollution.
Innovative infrastructure and social benefits
One of the key elements of the project is a large underground reservoir near Austerlitz, capable of holding more than 50,000 cubic meters of wastewater during heavy rains, thus preventing untreated water from reaching the river. The new bathing areas have accessible facilities, lifeguards, showers, and a solarium. In Grenelle, kayaks can also be borrowed. The bathing areas are clearly marked, navigation is suspended during opening hours, and water quality is monitored daily under strict safety protocols.
The Olympic legacy and sustainability
In line with the objectives of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Agenda, which seeks to make the Games more sustainable, inclusive, and better integrated into the host cities, Paris 2024 has become a driver of urban regeneration, environmental progress, and social benefit.
Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, highlighted the role of the Games in transforming the city: “The spirit of the Games lives on in the streets of Paris. And now, in the waters of the Seine. This progress would not have come so quickly without the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Tania Braga, IOC legacy manager, recalled that the reopening of the Seine is proof that the Olympic Games are not just about sport, but also about transformation. “When a host city sees the Games as a catalyst for long-term progress, as Paris has done, the impact can go far beyond the venues and competitions. It’s about reconnecting people with their environment.”
