From 'Sewage Olympics' to Environmental Success: Paris Seine River Wins International Award

The Seine River in Paris, France, which faced global backlash just two years ago for being labeled as "sewage," has been honored with an international environmental award in recognition of its water quality restoration efforts.

The World Aquatics Foundation, under World Aquatics, announced on June 9 (local time) that the city of Paris and Azerbaijan were selected as the inaugural recipients of its Environmental Award.

The foundation stated, "We highly commend the city of Paris for its large-scale environmental project that returned the Seine to the public, after swimming had been completely banned in the river since 1923."

Two years ago, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Seine was at the center of global controversy.

Although the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee ambitiously held triathlon and open-water swimming events in the Seine, excessive levels of E. coli were detected, leading to repeated cancellations of athlete training sessions.

After the events were forced to proceed, some athletes reported symptoms of vomiting and gastroenteritis, subjecting the event to harsh criticism and ridicule as the so-called "Sewage Olympics."

▶ [Video] "Vomited 10 times after the race": Vomiting scene broadcast globally... Seine water quality controversy reignites; some athletes even joked, "I didn't wash my hands to get used to the E. coli."

However, two years later, the perception of the Seine has changed 180 degrees.

The city of Paris invested over $1.6 billion (approximately 2.4 trillion KRW) to modernize sewage treatment facilities and focus on improving water quality and restoring the river's ecosystem.

As a result, public swimming areas are now established in various parts of the Seine, managed safely under strict daily water quality monitoring.

During the summer heatwaves, the river has transformed into an urban oasis where Parisian citizens and tourists can jump in to cool off at any time.

It has effectively evolved from a source of filth that threatened athletes' health into a symbol of successful water quality restoration.

Azerbaijan, which received the environmental award alongside Paris, was recognized for its efforts in protecting water resources, including the Caspian Sea, and its commitment to a sustainable energy transition.

The foundation will award $25,000 to each recipient to support their continued efforts in preserving the environmental ecosystem.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.