The Seine in Paris is still not swimmable, but in Lyon, residents will be able to swim in the Rhône

Less than a month before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the water quality of the Seine is still not optimal for holding the events. The results of the analyzes made public yesterday again showed that the bacteria concentrations were still too high. A problem that the happy people of Lyon do not know.

This Sunday, June 30, residents of France’s third largest city will be able to swim in the Rhône, the river that crosses the city. Swimming organized all day on the occasion of the “Entre Rhône et Saône” festival. Because in Lyon, the bacteriological analyzes are perfect. To swim in Lyon, you have to go to the Gerland district, facing the Confluence.

“The water from the Rhône comes from a glacier and it is very clean”

A swimming area has been set up in a quiet place in the Rhône, explains Julien Pavillard, Director of Events at the City of Lyon. “We have already done two analyses. For the moment, we were sure of the figures which were far below the maximums authorized by the Regional Health Agency which is the authoritative reference to swimming in natural water,” declared Julien Pavillard.

A situation that makes the people of Lyon proud and makes them want to swim. “The water of the Rhône comes from a glacier and it is very clean. Indeed, we are lucky to have water that is really good quality,” added, Director of Events at the City of Lyon.

“I’m tempted and honestly, I think it’s nice to be able to swim. It’s hot in Lyon at the moment, so if it’s possible and if it’s clean, that’s great,” reported a Lyonnaise at the microphone of Europe 1. 2,500 people are expected all day for swimming, today, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Berges de Gerland park. The mayor of Lyon, Grégory Doucet, planned to come, but, unlike Anne Hidalgo, he did not promise that he would swim.