Paris 2024: organizers make concessions to environmentalists for surfing competitions in Tahiti

Olympic organizers said Friday they will stay on Tahiti's famous beach for next year's surfing competition, but agreed to change plans for a tower that had angered environmentalists, UNN reports, citing AFP. 

Details

Surfers are due to catch the first waves of the Paris 2024 competition in nine months in Tahiti, about 15,000 kilometers from the French capital, but a plan to build a giant tower in the legendary surf spot has sparked fierce opposition among locals.

Several hundred people protested near Teahupoo Beach - one of the world's most famous surfing spots and an Olympic venue - against plans to erect a 14-meter aluminum structure in the water for judges to better assess the competition.

Local associations argued that the installation would cause irreparable damage to the coral. An online petition against the project gathered more than 160,000 signatures.

Moetai Broerson, the president of French Polynesia, which consists of more than 100 islands including Tahiti, suggested another venue for the competition without the need to build a tower.

In a statement on Friday, organizers rejected the idea of giving up the "iconic" surfing venue, saying they had instead reached an agreement with the Polynesian government to build a judging tower of "more moderate" size.

It will match the size and weight of the previous wooden tower, which will reduce the load on the foundation. This, in turn, will lead to a reduction in drilling depth, the statement said.

The organizers also promised to work with local experts to minimize the risk to corals. According to them, some coral reefs will be relocated to protect them during construction work.

Addendum

Surfing became an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Games and France sought to keep it on the list.

France's Atlantic coast is home to some of Europe's most famous surfing beaches, and local authorities had hoped to host the event there. However, they chose Tahiti in French Polynesia, one of several French overseas territories that span the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean.