With just over a year to go before the Paris Olympic Games, the Seine is the focus of attention. Two swimming contests are to be held in the river, between the Alexandre III Bridge and the Eiffel Tower off the 7th arrondissement. However, swimming in the Seine is banned due to high levels of bacteria, e.coli and pollution. It was formally banned in 1923 and those caught breaking the rules are subject to fines but public authorities have decided to launch a €1.4 billion plan to change this. Rainwater poses the greatest challenge, heavy rainfall causes sewers in the capital to overflow into the …