High divers take the plunge in Paris for a new test of reclaimed Seine’s water

AI Summary

Paris hosted its first high-diving competition in the Seine as part of the European Aquatics Championships, testing the city's efforts to reclaim the river for sport. Concerns arose when hydrocarbons were detected in the water but treated promptly to allow the event to continue.

European Aquatics Championships taking place in city Threat to water quality tested two years after Games Paris is staging its first high-diving competition in the Seine, with athletes launching themselves from a 20-metre platform in front of the Eiffel Tower – a spectacular new test of the city’s effort to reclaim its river for sport. The event on the Pont de Bir-Hakeim has also exposed the fragility of that ambition. Organisers suspended training on Thursday when traces of hydrocarbons were detected upstream. By Friday, the French Swimming Federation said the affected area had been treated, allowing athletes to return to the water and the event to proceed as planned. High diving concludes on Saturday with the final two rounds and medal events, while the broader European Aquatics Championships run through to 16 August. Continue reading...