But the famed Paris rats that spread diseases and even served as nourishment during times of famine in earlier centuries did not make a stellar appearance during the Monday visit in which deputy mayor Antoine Guillou hosted a group of international journalists. One of the intentions was to enlighten doubters on the iconic river’s swimmability for the triathlon event that should start on Tuesday, as well as the following open-water swimming competitions.

“We have to wait 24 hours after the testing to evaluate the results of measurements, but what we have experienced so far is that when the sun shines, bacteria traces decrease to a normal level, so if the good weather keeps up, we should be fine. We are precisely in that situation”, Guillou, who himself took a dip in the Paris waters last week, told Inside The Games. “Having rain in the opening ceremony was not ideal because spectators and athletes got wet and because it was not the best outlook for us. But today it’s beautiful and I am confident that everything will go as planned. And if, not we have alternate plans”.

Those B or even C options range from a change of scenery to converting the triathlon to a biathlon in the worst-case scenario. But it’s about way more than the Games for Guillou and current Paris residents. Like with all Olympics, City Hall hopes the Games leave a lasting legacy, an imprint far beyond the winners and losers and the rankings atop the medal table. In this case, the host organisers have set their minds on rendering the Seine a bathable -if not swimmable- river for citizens to enjoy well after the closing ceremony.

“We want Parisians to enjoy their river again like in the past and be able to bathe and swim in a natural milieu, at least in defined and controlled areas where currents do not pose a threat,” Guillou expressed. “With the effect of climate change, Summers are getting much hotter and we have suffered severe canicules recently. People are going to need to find refuges of freshness that provide relief. And hopefully, the Seine can become that.”

Speaking of rising temperatures, expected heat waves were a huge concern for organisers regarding the smooth proceeding of competitions, especially during the month of August, and France's meteorological agency issued a weather warning on Monday for Paris and the surrounding areas. Storms and highs of 35 degrees Celsius were expected on Tuesday, leading to a "yellow alert for very hot conditions across the capital while parts of southern France were on orange alert, the third highest warning, with temperatures pushing 40C in some locations.

If outdoor heat remained a pressing concern, indoor sweat became apparent over the weekend in many arenas like the gymnastics’ Bercy Arena, where celebrities showed up in droves to watch Simone Biles dominate the competition while also struggling to provide herself with some level of relief by repeated fanning.

Paris 2024 has also emphasized a low carbon footprint for the Games and advocated for an Air Conditioning-free Olympics, but some national teams like Finland opted to bring their own AC units to the French capital, which was frowned upon by organisers. 

"We are 6° below the outside temperature because of the way we built the buildings in the village. Nevertheless, some federations and athletes have decided to use air conditioning. We are not in favour of this option in the city of Paris, but everyone is free to do what they want" said Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor for sport.

"A lot has been done and I really hope this will change the way we organise sporting events. In the event of a heat wave, we have decided that there will be air conditioning to allow for the right conditions and a good night's sleep. It's a choice we wish we didn't have to make, but we understand."

Much to the organisers’ chagrin, concessions must be made, especially considering the yellow alert level means people should be attentive to the impact of heat when playing sports or engaging in other physical activity; and beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower, the BMX freestyle qualifiers at Place de la Concorde, and the women's rugby sevens semi-finals at the Stade de France are all scheduled to be held partly or fully outdoors.

After issuing a joint statement announcing the decision to cancel the day’s training sessions in the Seine because discharges of raw sewage led to polluted water, Paris 2024 organisers and World Triathlon relayed that they remained confident that pollution would drop before the start of the competition.

It all remains in the delicate balance of these 2024 Games that walk the fine line of setting a new standard in the way big events and huge metropolises treat the planet and its living creatures. Even the cohabitation with rats merits a conversation in Paris, as Guillou explained that, when it comes to sewers, they play an important role. 

“We don’t want to exterminate them, since they help degrade the left-over residue and clean everything up, while also alerting workers in case of gas leaks. Of course, the idea is for them to remain underground, so it’s important to use the garbage bins outside, especially when it’s hot,” he reminded.

Treatment of each other was also emphasised during a grandiose opening ceremony on Friday, where the City of Light shone a bright light on social issues despite heavy rainfall. Down the sewers and into the shadows the water went, as questions remain aplenty regarding Paris 2024’s legacy, far beyond the upcoming competitions of these Olympic Games.