In a landmark moment for the upcoming Paris Olympics, Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a plunge into the Seine River, waving away years of concerns over its cleanliness. Clad in a wetsuit, Hidalgo confidently swam in the turquoise-brownish waters, symbolically declaring it fit for Olympic swimming competitions.

The mayor's swim, which was broadcast live on national television, marked the fruition of her pledge to clean up the Seine before the Games. For over a century, swimming in the river had been banned due to health concerns related to wastewater overflow from the city's old sewage system.

Paris had ambitious plans to make the Seine the centerpiece of the Olympic Games, with events such as triathlon and marathon swimming scheduled to take place in the river. However, high levels of bacteria contamination had caused setbacks, leading to the cancellation of swimming events in previous years.

But now, optimism is in the air as the water quality in the Seine reached safe limits on most days this month, according to city measurements. French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra and even President Emmanuel Macron's government officials have shown their confidence in the Seine's cleanliness by taking a dip in its waters.

While there are concerns about the river's flow rate and the possibility of adaptation to plans for the opening ceremonies, organizers and residents alike are increasingly excited for the Paris Olympics. The transformation of the Seine into a swimmable river is seen as a way to raise awareness about the environment and climate change.

In line with this, French officials are considering opening river-water swimming pools along the Seine for Parisians and visitors, with plans to create accessible swimming spaces near iconic landmarks like the Louvre and Notre Dame, as well as in less privileged neighborhoods.

Swimming competitions were once held in the Seine during Paris' first Olympic Games in 1900. However, pollution caused by industrialization led to a ban on public swimming in 1923. The cleanup efforts spurred by hosting the Olympics have presented an opportunity for Parisians to reconnect with their city and its river.

With the inauguration of a new basin designed to prevent sewage overflow and a water-treatment plant upstream, the city is now equipped to handle excess rain and wastewater, reducing the risk of pollution. This development, combined with Mayor Hidalgo's successful swim, has provided a glimmer of hope for the Games' aquatic events.

As the Paris Olympics draw near, Parisians and visitors are eagerly anticipating the historic moment when athletes will compete in the Seine, making new memories and celebrating the city's revival of its iconic river.