Seine reopens to Paris swimmers after century-long ban
Paris officials say they have taken several measures to ensure swimmers can safely enjoy the long-anticipated reopening.
PARIS - The River Seine reopened to swimmers on July 5 morning in Paris, allowing people to take a dip in the French capital's iconic waterway for the first time since 1923.
Parisians and visitors looking to cool off this summer can dive in – weather permitting – at three bathing sites, including one a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower.
A few dozen people arrived ahead of the 8am local time (0600 GMT) opening on July 5 at the Bras Marie zone in the city's historic centre, diving into the water for the long-awaited moment under the watchful eyes of lifeguards wearing fluorescent yellow T-shirts and carrying whistles.
The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters which were specially cleaned for the event.
The swimming zones are equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture, offering space for 150 to 300 people to relax, lay out their towels, and unwind from the city's hustle and bustle.
Paris officials say they have taken several measures to ensure swimmers can safely enjoy the long-anticipated reopening, including daily water pollution testing and implementing a swim test for bathers.
'It's a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine,' said Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who visited the bras Marie site on July 5 morning.
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But officials reminded swimmers of potential dangers, including strong currents, boat traffic, and an average depth of 3.5m.
'The Seine remains a dangerous environment,' said local official Elise Lavielle earlier this week.
People swim in the River Seine at the Bras Marie site, opened to swimmers marking the first public bathing session in the capital's historic waterway, in Paris, on July 5.
PHOTO: REUTERS
To mitigate that risk, lifeguards will assess visitors' swimming abilities before allowing independent access, while a decree issued in late June introduced fines for anyone swimming outside designated areas.
The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal, around 65 years after the practice was banned in 1923.
Quality of life
'One of my predecessors (Chirac), then mayor of Paris, dreamed of a Seine where everyone could swim,' President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, describing the move as the result of a 'collective effort' and a moment of 'pride' for France.
Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested approximately 1.4 billion euros (S$2.1 billion) to improve the Seine's water quality.
Since then, work carried out upstream, including 2,000 new connections to the sewage system, promises even better water quality – with one catch.
On rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river.
Flags will inform bathers about pollution levels in the water every day, and if it rains, the sites will likely close the day after, said Paris city official Pierre Rabadan.
French Minister for Sports, Youth, and Community Life Marie Barsacq and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stand on the banks of the River Seine on July 5.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The presence of the faecal bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci in the Seine will be assessed daily using live sensors and samples.
Swimmers may be in luck this year, though, with weather predicted to be drier than the record rainfall during the Games, which had led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river.
The French capital during the week endured a major heatwave that saw Paris put on the weather agency's highest alert level during a Europe-wide heatwave.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who took the inaugural swim last year, said that cleaning up the Seine for the Olympics was not the final goal but part of a broader effort to adapt the city to climate change and enhance quality of life.
With record-breaking temperatures hitting Europe, including France's second warmest June since records began in 1900, authorities said they expect Parisians to embrace the relief of a refreshing swim.
The swimming spots will be open until Aug 31. AFP
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Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Seine reopens to Paris swimmers after century-long ban
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Paris officials say they have taken several measures to ensure swimmers can safely enjoy the long-anticipated reopening. PARIS - The River Seine reopened to swimmers on July 5 morning in Paris, allowing people to take a dip in the French capital's iconic waterway for the first time since 1923. Parisians and visitors looking to cool off this summer can dive in – weather permitting – at three bathing sites, including one a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower. A few dozen people arrived ahead of the 8am local time (0600 GMT) opening on July 5 at the Bras Marie zone in the city's historic centre, diving into the water for the long-awaited moment under the watchful eyes of lifeguards wearing fluorescent yellow T-shirts and carrying whistles. The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters which were specially cleaned for the event. The swimming zones are equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture, offering space for 150 to 300 people to relax, lay out their towels, and unwind from the city's hustle and bustle. Paris officials say they have taken several measures to ensure swimmers can safely enjoy the long-anticipated reopening, including daily water pollution testing and implementing a swim test for bathers. 'It's a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine,' said Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who visited the bras Marie site on July 5 morning. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Singapore Fewer people caught venturing off designated trails in nature spaces: NParks Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on her best friend for strength and support Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Asia Dream wheels, Malaysian deals: Singaporean car lovers find affordable indulgence across the border But officials reminded swimmers of potential dangers, including strong currents, boat traffic, and an average depth of 3.5m. 'The Seine remains a dangerous environment,' said local official Elise Lavielle earlier this week. People swim in the River Seine at the Bras Marie site, opened to swimmers marking the first public bathing session in the capital's historic waterway, in Paris, on July 5. PHOTO: REUTERS To mitigate that risk, lifeguards will assess visitors' swimming abilities before allowing independent access, while a decree issued in late June introduced fines for anyone swimming outside designated areas. The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal, around 65 years after the practice was banned in 1923. Quality of life 'One of my predecessors (Chirac), then mayor of Paris, dreamed of a Seine where everyone could swim,' President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, describing the move as the result of a 'collective effort' and a moment of 'pride' for France. Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested approximately 1.4 billion euros (S$2.1 billion) to improve the Seine's water quality. Since then, work carried out upstream, including 2,000 new connections to the sewage system, promises even better water quality – with one catch. On rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river. Flags will inform bathers about pollution levels in the water every day, and if it rains, the sites will likely close the day after, said Paris city official Pierre Rabadan. French Minister for Sports, Youth, and Community Life Marie Barsacq and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stand on the banks of the River Seine on July 5. PHOTO: REUTERS The presence of the faecal bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci in the Seine will be assessed daily using live sensors and samples. Swimmers may be in luck this year, though, with weather predicted to be drier than the record rainfall during the Games, which had led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river. The French capital during the week endured a major heatwave that saw Paris put on the weather agency's highest alert level during a Europe-wide heatwave. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who took the inaugural swim last year, said that cleaning up the Seine for the Olympics was not the final goal but part of a broader effort to adapt the city to climate change and enhance quality of life. With record-breaking temperatures hitting Europe, including France's second warmest June since records began in 1900, authorities said they expect Parisians to embrace the relief of a refreshing swim. The swimming spots will be open until Aug 31. AFP
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Tastemakers: The Halal Mixologist builds alcohol-free bar brand
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox In September 2023, Max Ahmad decided to try a new concept and opened Muslim-owned R.I.B. Soul Food in Jalan Kubor. SINGAPORE – By the time Mr Max Ahmad turned 32, he had packed up a six-year career in public service, opened two backpackers' hostels and launched Singapore's first halal rooftop bar. The year was 2017. Atap Bar was carved out of a corner of his second shophouse hostel's rooftop. He served up mocktails under strings of fairy lights, with nary a drop of alcohol. 'I wanted to show that you can have fun, experience nightlife, without alcohol,' says Mr Max, now 40, who is founder of lifestyle company Seriously Fun Collective. He has since added on a string of concepts – Wanderlost Lounge, Fairytail Bar, R.I.B. Soul Food and the now-shuttered poolside oyster bar Nauti Nauti. His e-commerce platform Mockohol, currently closed for restocking and scheduled to reopen by end-2025, sells bottled alcohol-free drinks. He also runs the Halal Mixologist Academy, opened in June 2024, which offers courses on crafting mocktails. Mr Max Ahmad wants to show people nightlife can be fun without alcohol. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Revenue peaked in 2021 at $5 million. Today, his business brings in close to $2 million annually, supported by a lean team of 15. Early drive His entrepreneurial streak was shaped by a sporting childhood. His father, a tennis coach, now aged 68, started training him at five. He was the middle child with two older sisters, now aged 43 and 42, and two younger brothers, aged 37 and 33. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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While classmates dreamed of being doctors or lawyers, he trained his sights on business. 'I wanted to do something different – where I could stand a chance at winning. Not what everyone else was aiming for,' he recalls. His only toys were racquets and tennis shoes. 'I didn't have much leisure or play growing up,' he says. 'So, I'm now making up for lost time – while combining it with work.' He named his company Seriously Fun Collective. His title? Chief Player. Employees are called Players. But the discipline he learnt in boyhood stayed with him. 'Nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. We have to earn what we want,' he says. 'There is no free lunch in this world.' In junior college, his father handed him two tennis students. Coaching brought in $500 a month, enough for him to stop receiving pocket money. At Nanyang Technological University, where he studied business, his father paid for his first year of study. He funded his remaining two years himself. He charged $80 an hour for tennis coaching, ran court game boot camps at $1,000 a student and recruited other varsity players as coaches. By the time he graduated with a business degree in 2010, he had earned nearly $100,000 – enough to pay his school fees, buy a Vespa and save $50,000. 'That's how I funded my first business,' he says. 'I am not from a rich family. It was all from work I put in.' After graduation, Mr Max joined a statutory board as a manager, where his work entailed working with hotels to develop staff training and development programmes. Meetings with industry partners were often held at hotel lounges, which served alcohol. Although no one partook of alcoholic beverages at those meetings, such venues made Mr Max feel uncomfortable. That discomfort sparked the idea of starting a dry bar. He was also inspired by the world of hospitality and dreamt of running his own hotel, though it felt out of reach. So, he settled for hostels. In 2016, at 30, he left his job after amassing $200,000 in savings. He convinced five friends to pool $375,000 to take over the 50-bed Moni Gallery Hostel in Lavender Street. He ran operations himself and lived on-site. At the end of 2017, he took over the 50-bed The Shophouse Hostel in Arab Street with a new partner. 'The others found the first hostel marginally profitable and not worth their while,' he says. Launching his first halal bar Both hostels brought in thin profits and were sold by end-2019. But it was at his second backpackers' hostel that Mr Max made his foray into the food and beverage industry. It had a 600 sq ft rooftop space, which served as his first halal bar. He spent $60,000 fitting out a 30-seater space and opened Atap Bar in December 2017. 'The idea was to have a bar that served fully non-alcoholic drinks,' he says. 'When I asked my Singaporean-Chinese friends if they'd go to a place like this, they told me I was crazy. People want to drink alcohol at a bar, not mocktails, they told me. 'There was no existing bar like this for me to learn from. I felt I had to try to see if it works.' The kampung-themed bar served mocktails based on local folklore. For example, Sang Nila Utama ($14) was a fizzy blend of elderflower cordial, lemongrass, ginger juice, topped with soda water. 'It took me three weeks to learn how to make drinks and bar bites from YouTube. I had no cooking experience,' he recalls. Food included chicken karaage and nuggets, sold at $8 a plate. Business was poor. 'After the official launch party, we hardly had any paying customers,' he says with a grimace. 'There were many days when it was just my bar manager and me looking at each other , waiting for customers. By the end of the first month, I told him I may have to let him go.' In the second month, a Muslim blogger featured Atap Bar. The post went viral. His bar was full house for months after, which prompted the landlord to raise the rent by 50 per cent. His response was to close the bar in October 2018. Two months later , he launched Wanderlost Lounge at the now-demolished Realty Centre's rooftop in Tanjong Pagar, with his eldest sister and another silent partner. It cost them $150,000 to renovate the hidden spot in an old office block with zero foot traffic. Drinks at the 1,500 sq ft space, which seated 60, were themed after storybooks such as The Little Prince and The Alchemist, and priced at $15+. He says: 'It was all about marketing. I wanted to gamify the experience – make it fun for visitors to seek out this hidden spot.' He targeted young Muslims and teetotallers in their 20s and 30s. Word spread that the much-hyped Atap Bar team was behind it. Within six months, the business turned profitable and broke even by end-2019. Business expansion In December 2019, he and his sister sunk in another $30,000 to refurbish a 1,200 sq ft al fresco space at D'Hotel in Outram Road into another rooftop bar with 45 seats. Fairytail Bar opened in February 2020, just as Covid-19 fears were mounting. When the circuit breaker was announced in April, Mr Max had 10 employees across both bars on his payroll. He recalls: 'We didn't operate, but we continued paying rent. I was very stressed and panicking.' A lifeline came two months later when the hotel, converted into a quarantine facility for migrant workers, asked Mr Max to cater meals for the quarantined guests. His staff pivoted to food prep and packaging. Both bars reopened by July 2020 and were packed again almost every night, with social distancing measures in place. Business held steady through 2021. Revenue hit $5 million and his staff strength rose to 30. In February 2021, Mr Max met his future wife online. By October, they were married. 'I was 35 and felt it was time,' he says. 'I was ready to settle down and I knew she was the one.' 'Our friends and family were shocked we moved so fast,' he says with a laugh. 'But they all agree we are a great match.' In August 2021, Wanderlost Lounge moved out of Realty Centre to Bugis+ mall, where it reopened in December 2021. But as borders reopened and Singaporeans started revenge travelling, receipts fell. In June 2023, Mr Max and his sister spent $130,000 to open Nauti Nauti – a poolside oyster and seafood bar in River Valley, renovating the space previously occupied by a Japanese restaurant. He closed it a year later after incurring a $200,000 loss. Its poor location was a deal-breaker. With no MRT station nearby, getting there felt like a trek. 'We took four months to decide on closing it,' recalls Mr Max. 'By then, the pandemic was pretty much over and customers had less patience for hunting down an oddly located restaurant or bar.' No amount of marketing could save it. It was the first setback for Mr Max, who had not experienced any business failures up to then. He realised his hidden-location strategy no longer worked in an increasingly fickle and novelty-seeking market. Fairytail Bar also closed in August 2023 for hotel renovations. Back on track But ever the optimist, in September 2023, he decided to try a new concept and opened Muslim-owned R.I.B. Soul Food in Jalan Kubor, which serves American Southern soul food such as Crispy Catfish ($19.90+) and Southern Okra Gumbo ($27.90+), featuring the use of Cajun spices. This time, he roped in his wife, now aged 34, who works at a Chinese internet tech firm, as a silent partner. They spent $30,000 on the 950 sq ft unit, which seats 25 indoors and 15 outdoors, and has an R&B theme with menus printed on vintage vinyl records and album sleeves. Appealing to a young Muslim crowd of diners aged 18 to 30s, they recouped their initial investment after 15 months. Mr Max Ahmad at R.I.B Soul Food. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Popular items there are the Mama's Back Ribs ($38.90+), which is BBQ beef back ribs served with roasted vegetables and mashed potato. Mama's Back Ribs at R.I.B Soul Food. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI As well as the tongue-tingling Cajun Jambalaya ($29.90+), which is spicy Cajun rice with a medley of prawns, clams, mussels, catfish and beef meatballs. Cajun Jambalaya at R.I.B Soul Food. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI There are also spooky-themed mocktails, a nod to the restaurant's proximity to the Jalan Kubor Cemetery situated across Victoria Street. Boo Hag ($16+) is a concoction of blue peaflower tea, yuzu, grape and soda. There is also Vampire Venom ($15+), made with strawberry, mint and orange, and served in an IV drip bag. (From left) Mama's Back Ribs, Boo Hag, Butterbeer Tower, Cajun Jambalaya and Vampire Venom at R.I.B Soul Food. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI As always, Mr Max works 12-hour days. He splits his time between Wanderlost Lounge and R.I.B. Soul Food, runs mocktail workshops for schools and corporate clients looking for team-building sessions, and offers consulting to businesses looking to upgrade their drink menus. 'Being the owner of an F&B business, you are not just a boss,' says the employer of 15 people now. 'You also have to sometimes take on the roles of therapist, counsellor, financial adviser and dish out advice to employees facing personal problems.' But he does not regret a moment of it and intends to forge on, carving out new businesses as he goes along. He intends to move into food production, such as healthy drink supplements. He is also diverisfying into marketing services for other F&B businesses. 'I encourage everyone to run a business if they have a chance, at least once in their life. When you start to run a business, it strengthens your resolve and you learn to be resilient.' He adds: 'When you light a lamp for others, it also brightens your own path.'
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Kodak, once the picture of a dying brand, is having a moment
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Corner Shop, a Kodak Apparel store in Seoul, is what locals call the 'Brooklyn of Seoul'. SEOUL - Even among the flashy signs on the bustling main drag of Seongsu-dong, a former warehouse district turned hipster haven in Seoul, South Korea, the mustard-yellow facade of the Kodak Corner Shop stands out. On a recent afternoon, the two-storey apparel store in what locals call the 'Brooklyn of Seoul' teemed with shoppers. 'Share Moments. Share Life' – a slogan Kodak launched nearly a quarter-century ago – was posted above the door. People browsed shelves of Kodak-branded clothing, including shorts, T-shirts, baseball caps, book bags, sundresses and sandals. One of the shoppers, Ms Erye An, 27, a film photographer, modelled a cross-body bag emblazoned with Kodak's signature red-and-yellow, camera-shutter logo, once among the most recognisable symbols in the world. Ms An, who mentioned that her refrigerator was packed with Kodak film and kimchi, said the shop mirrored the 'dreamy' tones of analogue photographs and evoked for her a nostalgic feeling. Her friend, Ms Lee Young-ji, 30, a marketing student, offered an explanation for why the shop was so busy: 'I think it's because Kodak hasn't lost its emotional touch.' The Eastman Kodak Co., a brand as big in its heyday as Apple or Google today and whose sentimental ads left lumps in the throats of generations of consumers, has become a cautionary tale for companies slow to adapt to change. At its headquarters in Rochester, New York, most of the roughly 200 buildings that once stood on its 1,300-acre campus have either been razed or are occupied by other businesses. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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The company's logo is being slapped on lifestyle items such as apparel, luggage, eyewear and paint; on hardware like such as solar panels, flashlights and power generators; and on audiovisual equipment such as televisions, voice recorders and binoculars. Its ubiquity is perhaps nowhere more apparent than in South Korea, where there are 123 and counting brick-and-mortar stores that just sell products from Kodak Apparel, the name of the clothing line. There are no Kodak Apparel stores in the United States. 'Kodak is now a trending fashion brand in South Korea,' Mr Adrian Tay, an editor at LinkedIn News Asia, said in a post on April 1. 'No, this isn't an April Fool's joke.' Brand licensing is a growing, if small, part of Kodak's business, accounting for US$20 million (S$25.5 million) in revenue in 2024. That represents a 35 per cent increase over five years ago, when branding became a stand-alone segment of the company. Kodak has never fully recovered from a ruinous decision to bet on film, just as digital photography, a technology it invented, was taking off. In 2024, according to the company's financial filings, it recorded US$1 billion in revenue, compared with US$19 billion in 1990 when 'Kodak Moments' were captured on film everywhere. The bulk of Kodak's revenues comes from commercial print products and, to a lesser extent, materials related to the motion picture industry. Kodak currently has 44 brand licensees, according to the company, and some of them make products that many people might consider unrelated to the thing they most associate with the company: photography. But company officials said elements of photography such as creativity, telling stories and preserving memories were often integrated in the products bearing the Kodak logo. 'Our brand licensing portfolio begins with photography and imaging, but it's much broader than that,' said Ms Clara Fort, the vice-president for global brand licensing at the company. Ms Fort pointed to Kodak's wide-ranging apparel licensing deals in Asia, Europe and the United States as natural extensions of the brand at a time when images, amplified by social media, are central to daily life. 'With people taking pictures of themselves on social media,' she said, 'we thought, well, why don't we extend our brand to lifestyle?' Kodak Apparel and its related shops are the brainchild of Mr Lee Jun Kwon, the CEO of Hilight Brands, a South Korean fashion company that has been acquiring licences to prominent trademarks. The company holds licences for Diadora and Malbon Golf, and has Kodak Apparel outlets in Japan, Taiwan and China. 'We believed Kodak could not be limited to just the keywords 'camera' and 'film,'' a company representative, Hyejin Park, wrote in an e-mail. Kodak Apparel dovetails with a resurgence in film photography and a youth culture trend in South Korea known as 'newtro' – a portmanteau that describes a blend of contemporary style ('new') with nostalgia and vintage design ('retro'). American brands that have been 'newtroed' in South Korea include National Geographic, Discovery, CNN and the aeronautics defence contractor Lockheed Martin. Brand licensing is a prevalent and growing corporate practice, with a global market value estimated at upward of US$320 billion. Disney is often cited as the gold standard. 'Licensing is all about bringing to life the emotional connection between consumers and the brands they care about,' said Ms Maura Regan, the president of Licensing International, a trade organisation. The Kodak warm fuzzies were once deeply embedded in the company's hometown, Rochester, where the company employed 60,000 people and was the leading benefactor of the city's cultural institutions before it filed for bankruptcy in 2012. Today, Kodak employs about 1,300 people in the city, and its residents are more likely to regard the company with bitterness than as a paragon of branding. Yet in May, Kodak was in the running for Best Corporate Brand honours at the Licensing International Excellence Awards in Las Vegas alongside household names such as Jeep, Goodyear and the Girl Scouts. Though not ultimately winners of the prize, the company did win the distinction two years ago. In 2025, Kodak took home two other awards, one for its partnership with Hilight and another for a collaboration with American streetwear company HUF to put Kodak logos and images on hoodies, gold lockets and skateboards, among other items. In recent years, Kodak has partnered with Mattel on pink Barbie cameras and printers, and signed a deal allowing EssilorLuxottica, the European eyewear conglomerate that owns Ray-Ban and Oakley, to use the Kodak name in perpetuity. Kodak officials said the company was exploring options in the gaming, smart home and health care industries. Mr Eric Kunsman, a photographer from Rochester who works around the country, recently recalled spotting young people wearing Kodak clothes in Los Angeles. The sight warmed his heart, he said, and reminded him of Rochester's halcyon days when Kodak was on top of the world. 'I got this sense of hometown pride,' Mr Kunsman said. 'Even though I knew they weren't made in Rochester, to me, it was still Kodak.' NYTIMES
