One major European city is preparing to open three beaches as tourists flock in for the summer months, including an entirely new one, bringing a taste of the coast to the urban centre.
Paris will transform the banks of the Saint Martin Canal ahead of the Olympic Games, which it is hosting from July to August. The regular summer beach along the Seine will also re-open.
The Bassin de la Villette cultral district along the canal already hosts a beach, but there will be a new one opening further along.
Paris is typically one of the most popular tourist destinations, but fears of overcrowing and overpricing during the Olympics has put visitors off.
There has been concern over the water quality at the beaches, but officials have confirmed that it will be tested to meet health standards.
Pierre Rabadan, Paris deputy mayor in charge of sport and the Olympics, said there will be 30 testing sites to monitor water quality in and quickly identify potential pollution risks.
The Olympic torch will return to Paris for the opening ceremony on July 23, giving people a chance to see it in the flesh as it passes through the canal and towards the Seine.
There are also other activities being held ahead of and during the event to encourage community engagement.
The city is holding a marathon on August 10 following the same route as the professionalo runners, as well as a shorter 10k. Participants will run past iconic landmarks such as the Opera Garnier, Place de la Concorde, and the Eiffel Tower.
There will also be a District Olympic Games where residents from the different arrondissements will compete against one another in different events to see which one is the fastest and strongest.
It’s also not limited to Parisians – anyone over the age of seven can enter – you just need to choose an arrondissement to represent.
The games run from June 22 to July 13, and will include laser run, 3×3 basketball, boccia, table tennis, 60 metre run, breakdancing, and 50 metre freestyle swimming.
