Macron has repeatedly expressed his intention to dive into the Seine to demonstrate the success of significant de-pollution efforts and to reassure the public about the water quality. However, the 46-year-old president has not specified a date for this symbolic swim and did not join Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who both recently took a dip in the river.

"He didn't announce that he was going to swim before the Olympics, he announced that he was going to swim and he has always expressed this certainty," a presidential spokesperson stated on Friday. "He will not necessarily have the opportunity to do so before the Games."

A presidential adviser added that no specific date has been set. "As he said when he announced it, what seems essential to him beyond the fact that it allows us to organise Olympic competitions, is that it will above all allow us to open swimming sites for all the numerous residents of the Ile-de-France region in the years to come," the adviser explained. "It will therefore undoubtedly be in this spirit that he will have the opportunity to swim when he is able to do so."

Improved Water Quality

On Friday, Paris city hall announced that the Seine had been clean enough for swimming six out of the seven days tested between 10-16 July. Weather permitting, the river is set to be a highlight of the Olympic Games, hosting the opening ceremony on 26 July, as well as the triathlon and swimming marathon events.

Despite these improvements, uncertainty remains over the feasibility of holding these competitions in the Seine. While water quality has improved since the end of June, the levels of E. coli bacteria at three other Parisian sites showed mixed results. Heavy rains can negatively impact the river's water quality by washing untreated sewage into the Seine. For instance, a downpour on 9 July and subsequent storms on 11-12 July affected water quality, though it recovered within two to three days.

Contingency Plans

Organisers remain optimistic as the flow of the Seine, which had been unusually high and detrimental to water quality, continues to decrease thanks to dry weather. If water quality standards are not met, a 'Plan B' is in place, which involves postponing events for a few days or relocating the marathon swimming to Vaires-sur-Marne on the Marne River, east of Paris.

As the countdown to the Paris Olympics continues, the focus remains on ensuring safe and clean conditions for athletes and spectators alike. Meanwhile, President Macron's promised swim in the Seine will serve as a testament to the ongoing efforts to revitalise the iconic river.