Olympics in Paris 2024

Paris mayor jumps into Seine: "Now ready"

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine on Wednesday to show that the river's water is now clean enough for Olympic swimming competitions, AFP reports.

- We are now ready to organize the games in the Seine, she said.

Several Olympic swimming competitions are expected to take place in the Seine, including the swimming triathlon. But discussions have raged over the river's water quality, which has repeatedly shown too high levels of e.coli bacteria.

Anne Hidalgo promised earlier this year to swim in the Seine before the Olympics. Last week, Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra took a swim in the river.

....................................

French soldier stabbed outside train station in Paris

A French soldier was stabbed outside a train station in Paris on Monday evening, several media reports. The soldier had to be taken to hospital and the perpetrator could be arrested.

According to the prosecutor's office in Paris, the soldier suffered injuries to a shoulder blade, but his life is not in danger.

An investigation into attempted murder has been launched. The authorities do not suspect that it is a terrorist crime.

The knife attack occurred eleven days before the start of the Paris Olympics. The competitions will be surrounded by a large security effort. 30,000 police officers will work every day, according to the AP news agency.