France's Sports Minister, Amelie Oudea-Castera, took the plunge and swam in the River Seine on Saturday, in a publicity moment that French authorities hope will show the capital's river is clean enough and ready to stage swimming events at the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics.

Oudea-Castera was filmed by BFM TV as she briefly swam in the Seine near the Alexandre III and Invalides bridges.

The triathlon and marathon swimming events at the Olympics, which will run from July 26 to August 11, are due to be held in the Seine. The famous river was also used in the 1900 Paris Olympics.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who championed a campaign to clean up the often polluted river in time for the Games, has also promised to swim in the Seine to mark the arrival of the Olympics in the French capital and promote the river's suitability for swimming events.