This is an excerpt from the podcast:
Arnold Homosexual:
An enormous query in regards to the River Seine – is that also going to be the situation for the opening ceremony because it stands?
Ross Cullen:
Sure. I imply there’s a plan B and a plan C. Plan B to carry the opening ceremony in a static location close to the Eiffel Tower, and plan C probably within the Stade de France. However the entire concept in regards to the river was to not have it in a stadium for the primary time ever. Paris 2024 would be the first Olympics the place the opening ceremony shouldn’t be held in a stadium. The argument by the organisers was that you would solely get possibly 80,000 folks in a nationwide stadium. What number of of these are going to be dignitaries? What number of athletes? How many individuals would really be capable to see it? … Holding it in a six kilometre lengthy stretch of river in the course of a metropolis centre ought to open it as much as a whole lot of hundreds of individuals probably. It is an enormous safety risk, and we are able to possibly come onto that later. However by way of the planning, they’re hoping to have some 80 barges with each workforce. Staff Singapore, Staff USA, Staff GB for Britain, all travelling down the river, going downstream to finish up beneath the Eiffel Tower. So it ought to be spectacular. It is rather difficult, very dangerous, however that’s what they’re planning on doing in the meanwhile.
Arnold Homosexual:
Okay, protected to boat on clearly however will the sand be protected sufficient to get into, actually, for occasions like marathon swimming and likewise the swim leg of the triathlon, for instance?
Ross Cullen:
Yeah, I imply we’ve had some fairly poor climate general this yr thus far Arnold, in France particularly, however Europe extra broadly. We have had a whole lot of rain. And when it rains in Paris, the water runs off into the river. The river degree rises. The river present pace will increase, and there may be additionally a rise in air pollution. Now they’ve constructed an enormous new further sewer reservoir to attempt to cope with a few of these issues. They’ve additionally been usually testing the water. Naturally in July, the water degree ought to be decrease and slower anyway, resulting from simply the summer time stream and circulate of the river. In order that they’re hoping that may occur naturally. However there have been individuals who have been testing the water to attempt to guarantee that it’s protected, as a result of we’ve seen ranges of air pollution have been increased. The mayor herself Anne Hidalgo, has mentioned that she would love to have the ability to swim within the Seine earlier than the Video games.
