Macron launches 500-day countdown to Paris Olympics

By The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has launched the 500-day countdown to the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. It brings the public up to date with his government’s hopes for the Games including the ambitious use of the Seine. Macron addressed hundreds of officials at a “speech of thanks” in the Paris police headquarters. Macron made reference to the ambitious 1.4-billion-euro ($1.5 billion) scheme to clean the polluted waters of Paris’ main river artery. He says, “The Seine and the Marne (rivers) will be made swimmable.” Several events are to be held in the Seine. Macron also hopes to ditch tradition by staging the opening ceremony on water in an ambitious plan that will see craft floating on the Seine by the Eiffel Tower — as millions watch.