According to official Pierre Rabadan, the water quality met the required standards for "11 days or 10 days" out of the past 12, offering hope for the river's role in the upcoming events. "We hope the weather will get a little better, but we are not worried about the possibility of holding the competitions," Rabadan told broadcaster RFI. "They will take place."

The River Seine, set to be a central feature of the opening ceremony on 26 July, will also host the triathlon and the swimming marathon. Recent unseasonable heavy rainfall in the Paris region has led to concerns about pollution, as untreated sewage may be washed into the river, increasing its pollution levels. Rabadan mentioned that there might be "modifications" to the events if necessary, though he did not specify what those changes might entail.

Fortunately, weather forecasts predict mostly dry conditions in Paris for the final two weeks leading up to the Games, which should aid in maintaining the river's cleanliness, and Parisians may get their dream after all. On 4 July, city hall reported that E.Coli bacteria levels at the designated Olympic swimming spot in central Paris had fallen to within acceptable limits for four consecutive days, with mayor Anne Hidalgo even prepared to swim and test the water.

However, the previous week saw E.Coli levels exceed the upper limits set by sports federations daily at the Alexandre III bridge location, due to storms and a broken valve, the planned starting point for the swimming events. At one point, E.Coli levels were recorded at 10 times the acceptable limit of 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres (cfu/ml), primarily due to the heavy rainfall over the preceding months. Despite past pollution issues, the quality of the Seine's water has been steadily improving due to significant anti-pollution efforts.

French authorities have invested €1.4 billion over the last decade in efforts to clean the Seine, which will host a landing taxi pad. These efforts included improvements to the Paris sewerage system and the construction of new water treatment and storage facilities. These initiatives appear to be bearing fruit just in time for the Games.

A new stormwater control station at Champigny-sur-Marne filters and cleans rainwater to prevent pollution, while a massive stormwater cistern near Austerlitz station, capable of holding 20 Olympic swimming pools worth of water, acts as a backup to prevent sewage overflow into the Seine. 

The Seine is scheduled to be used for the swimming leg of the triathlon on 30-31 July and 5 August, and for open-water swimming on 8-9 August. The city's commitment to ensuring a clean and safe river for these events underscores the significance of the Seine as both a cultural icon and a vital part of the Olympic Games.

As Rabadan optimistically put it, "They will take place," reflecting the city's determination and ongoing efforts to meet the stringent water quality standards required for the international event.