Pakistan, July 6 -- Parisians and tourists flocked to the River Seine this weekend as the city officially reopened the waterway for public swimming for the first time since 1923. The decision comes after a massive cleanup driven by preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the river served as a venue for events like triathlon and open water swimming.

Three designated swimming areas along the Seine in central Paris will now welcome over 1,000 swimmers daily through August 31. Excited locals and visitors praised the experience, calling the water clean and warm, with only a natural presence of algae. Many expressed surprise and joy at swimming so close to the Eiffel Tower.

The project involved major environmental investments, includi...