Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (L) is applauded by the President of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organising Committee (Cojo) Tony Estanguet (R), after swimming in the Seine River, in Paris on July 17, 2024, to demonstrate that the river is clean enough to host the outdoor swimming events at the Paris Olympics later this month. Despite an investment of 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) to prevent sewage leaks into the waterway, the Seine has been causing suspense in the run-up to the opening of the Paris Games on July 26 after repeatedly failing water quality tests. But since the beginning of July, with heavy rains finally giving way to sunnier weather, samples have shown the river to be ready for the open-water swimming and triathlon -- and for 65-year-old Hidalgo. (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP)