Se baigner à nouveau dans la Seine : l’héritage promis par les Jeux olympiques et paralympiques de Paris 2024

Abstract

In this article, we analyse how bathing practices and facilities have been a part of a long history in Île-de-France and have never totally disappeared despite their decline in the second half of the 20th century. We then try to determine what motivated the actors in the Paris bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games to promise the opening of twenty or so bathing sites by 2024. The inclusion of the Seine in the bid project makes it possible to further develop urban strategies which are already underway. At the same time, the development of open water swimming as a sport offers an exceptional opportunity to showcase the architectural and natural heritages of cities hosting the games. Finally, the evolution of bidding models and their popularity leads committees to promise to provide intangible and symbolic legacies for the benefit of inhabitants and international actors and audiences alike.

Keywords

• urban swimming
• Olympic Games
• Seine
• sustainable city
• freestyle swimming