Seine Pollution Hospitalizes Athletes, Disrupts Training

Multiple athletes have fallen ill, and some have been hospitalized after swimming in the polluted Seine River during the Paris Olympics. Elevated levels of E. coli and Enterococci bacteria have disrupted events and training sessions, exacerbated by heavy rainfall. Despite significant investments to clean the river, water quality has caused health concerns among athletes, including vomiting and E. coli infections. Organizers have considered relocating events if conditions do not improve, although they remain confident that upcoming races will proceed as planned. The situation highlights the challenges of using an urban river for Olympic events and the need for better water quality management.