AOC: Athletes to have final say on Seine

Australia will provide protective treatment for athletes competing in the waters of the River Seine at the Paris Olympics, and the final decision on whether they take the plunge will rest with the swimmers.

France has committed to clearing the Paris waterway of pollutants sufficiently enough to safely stage the marathon swimming and swimming element of the triathlon in July and August.

A giant reservoir was opened by the city's mayor last month to help reduce the risks of pollution in the river, but regular tests of the water quality are still revealing unhealthy levels of contaminants after rainy days.