Pollution levels at four out of five points on the marathon course in the River Seine are still higher than the permitted levels but World Aquatics and Paris 2024 Organisers say they are optimistic that prevailing weather conditions will allow the 10km battles to proceed on Thursday and Friday.

Down on the course, from land at least, all look spectacularly well as I walked the embankment following the course early this morning, first light catching the gilded tips of the winged Fames restraining Pegasus on the Pont Alexandre III.

It's not hard to see why France would want its Olympic swimmers back in the Seine after 124 years. From the pontoon, the Eiffel towers to the left, Le Grand Palais to the right, the backdrop Alexandre's bridge with Pheme, the personification of fame and renown, there to remind the challengers of the prize ahead.