Paul Rouget, Media365: Published on Monday, December 11, 2023 at 11:12 PM
President of the organizing committee of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Tony Estanguet remains confident about holding the surfing event in Tahiti, despite opposition from locals and others regarding the construction of a new aluminum tower at the Teahupo’o spot.
Despite the technical test failure and opposition from some associations, it has been confirmed that the iconic Teahupo’o spot in Tahiti will host the surfing event during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Tony Estanguet, head of the organizing committee, reiterated this on Monday, following an information meeting organized by Moetai Brotherson, the President of French Polynesia, at Vairao with local stakeholders and opponents of the aluminum tower construction project. According to Estanguet, the new tower, intended to replace the current wooden one, is necessary “for safety reasons and to leave a legacy for this territory. A very large majority of stakeholders at the meeting, except for one association, have praised this project,” he assured during a video conference with journalists, as reported by L’Equipe.
According to Tahiti Infos, discussions lasted over 4 hours and “maintained a division of opinions between those in favor and those against the aluminum tower.” In addition to the Vaiara o Teahupoo association, which is firmly opposed to the construction of new foundations, the surfers are also against it, according to their representative Lorenzo Avvenenti. “We really feel like we are not being heard,” he said, pointing out that “the big international surfers have signed the petition against the aluminum tower” and that they could boycott the Olympics if it was built. The Polynesian President then warned the audience, explaining that if the discussions dragged on, the Olympics would not come to Tahiti, and neither would the WSL (World Surf League). Hence, things are expected to accelerate, as Estanguet stated on Monday that he hoped the work could begin “before the end of the year” if tests with a new barge are successful.
