The scenario seemed impossible. However, he is now at the top of the list. Less than nine months before the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (D – 260), the map of competition sites could still change.
This time, the change concerns an additional sport. All the indicators suggest it: the surf spot of Teahupo'o, in French Polynesia, chosen by the OCOG for its legendary wave, could well disappear into the dustbin of history. The discipline would not leave the island of Tahiti, but it would be relocated to a less controversial site.
In question, the construction of an aluminum tower intended for judges of Olympic events. It must replace the usual wooden structure used for international competitions, including the Tahiti Pro (photo above). Sealed in the sea by reinforced concrete blocks, the new structure has fueled protests for several weeks, among the local population, environmental organizations and certain players in the surfing world.
A petition was launched by the local association Vai Ara O Teahupo’o to prevent its construction. She asks " the government of the country to renounce the new arbitration tower for the 2024 Olympic Games, drilling, underwater pipelines. She suggests using the usual wooden tower. The petition has collected more than 150.000 signatures.
Clarification: the tower in question, the cost of which is announced at 4,4 million euros, has already been built. It is 14 meters high, has three floors, an air-conditioned technical room for internet servers, powered by an underwater cable. Built, then, but still not installed.
The Polynesian Minister of Sports, Nahema Temarii, announced on her social networks the suspension of “ Start of work related to the foundations of the Judges Tower until November 20, 2023. She explained: “ This is the only window we have left to find solutions with all teams and stakeholders.”.
The president of French Polynesia, Moetai Brotherson, took things a step further by suggesting this week to forget the Teahupo'o option and move the event to another beach. “ I went to the site and I don't see today where we would get an 8 meter by 8 meter barge with an 80 cm draft to the work site without exploding coral."he said.
Moetai Brotherson, elected last May, is already putting forward a plan B: the Taharu’u spot, on the west coast of the island. Less renowned, but easier to access, it regularly hosts an event on the WSL circuit, the professional surfing league.
At the COJO Paris 2024, the decision is long overdue. Very embarrassed by a controversy that was unwelcome to say the least, at a time when the teams were switching to operational mode one after the other, he procrastinated in the hope of finding a compromise.
“We are collectively studying all possible scenarios – in conjunction with the Polynesian government – to allow surfing competitions to take place on the exceptional site of Teahupo’o, which we wish to preserve, respect and promote during the Games, specifies the OCOG in a press release sent to theAFP. Reflections and studies will continue in the coming weeks in order to find the solution to organize the tests on the Teahupo'o site.
The message is clear: the COJO wants to review its copy, but it does not plan to abandon Teahupo’o to turn to another spot. A position confirmed by several sources close to the discussions.
Questioned by The Tahiti Dispatch, Barbara Martins-Nio, director of the Tahitian site for the COJO, admitted to working on a new copy. “ We challenge everything again, we start from scratch, she explained. For a month, our teams have been mobilized to put everything back together. All options are open. »
Still according to Barbara Martins-Nio, the design offices and project owners will not submit their results before November 15. But this next step will not be the last. It will remain for the OCOG to propose an alternative to the judges' tower in its current configuration, convince local elected officials, reassure the population and rewrite its calendar. Anything but simple.
