High divers take the plunge in Paris for a new test of reclaimed Seine’s water
Paris is hosting a high-diving competition in the Seine as part of the European Aquatics Championships to test the river's water quality. Training was briefly suspended due to hydrocarbon detection, highlighting the challenges of urban river reclamation.
Why it matters
Demonstrates the environmental and logistical complexities of making urban waterways safe for public and sporting use after major infrastructure investments.
Germany’s Maike Elena Halbisch competes in the women’s 20m high diving event during the European Aquatics Championships, alongside the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower in the background./Getty Images Germany’s Maike Elena Halbisch competes in the women’s 20m high diving event during the European Aquatics Championships, alongside the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower in the background./Getty Images Diving High divers take the plunge in Paris for a new test of reclaimed Seine’s water European Aquatics Championships taking place in city
Threat to water quality tested two years after Games
Prefer the Guardian on Google 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.
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