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By Monica Sager
Live News Reporter
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After France spent $1.5 billion to clean up the Seine in preparation for this summer's Olympics, Parisians are now organizing a "sh-t flashmob" for the same day President Emmanuel Macron and Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, plan to swim in the iconic river.
The hashtag #JeChieDansLaSeineLe23Juin, which translates to "I sh-t in the Seine on June 23," began trending on social media last week.
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"This is kind of the idea of what they've put us through for the past seven years," @MickaelLaffont, the apparent organizer, posted.
Participants are sharing where they plan to relieve themselves and some French citizens even indicating they will travel to Paris to take part in the protest next month.
Polluted water
Macron and Hidalgo have promised to swim in the river to prove the expensive clean-up efforts were not in vain. The Olympic committee is planning for the triathlon, marathon swimming and paratriathlon to take place in the Seine, as well as the Opening Ceremony.
It has been illegal to swim in the river for a century due to the high pollution levels.
Hidalgo announced last week she would dive into the Seine with Laurent Nuñez, the prefect of the Paris police, as well as Marc Guillaume, the prefect of the Ile-de-France region. They will plunge at the level of the Bras Marie in the 4th arrondissement, opposite the Île Saint-Louis on the right bank.
That location and two others are expected to be approved for public swimming by next summer.
French environmental nonprofit Surfrider said it remains concerned about athletes dipping into the "polluted waters of the Seine."
For over six months, Surfrider has been taking regular samples of the river to monitor the levels of bacteria.
"Of the 14 samples taken, whether after heavy rain or on a sunny day, only 1 enabled our team to conclude that the quality of the water in the Seine at this particular point was even satisfactory," the nonprofit said in a press release.
The results are based on only two types of bacteria and do not account for other chemical or biological pollutants.
"It is therefore clear that the athletes who will be taking part in the Olympic and Paralympic events planned for the Seine will be swimming in polluted water and taking significant risks to their health," the organization said.
The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in the French capital starting July 26.
Ahead of the Games, Ipsos, a global market researcher, found more than half of French residents are not confident their country can smoothly run the Olympics.
Only 36% of people polled believe that the Seine will be swimmable in time for the Opening Ceremony.
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