Solution will be found for Teahupo’o surfing site: Paris 2024

PARIS – Paris 2024 organisers are confident a solution will be found quickly for the construction of a judging tower that will then allow them to finalise plans for the Olympics’ surfing competition in Tahiti’s Teahupo’o site.

On Dec 6, the International Surfing Association (ISA) welcomed a pause in preparations for the construction of the tower after local opposition said a barge had damaged coral near the site.

A video posted on Instagram last weekend by Save Teahupo’o Reef, a coalition of locals, surfers and environmental NGOs, appeared to show a barge stuck on the reef, along with broken coral and its damaged propeller.

It prompted the French Polynesian government to “pause all further testing and preparations to draw lessons following the incident on the reef”. Paris 2024, however, believes the matter will be settled soon.

“The French Polynesian government and Paris 2024 are working on solutions that will enable the new tower to be set up which has been reduced in size and weight,” organisers said.

“To reduce the impact of the tower on the natural environment, meetings with all those involved in the project should enable solutions to be found rapidly.

“Those involved in the project are reaffirming more than ever their desire to work with the associations to ensure that the Paris 2024 Games are a success for French Polynesia.”

In October, residents of Teahupo’o

protested against plans to build a 14-metre aluminium tower

that would allow up to 40 people to watch, film and judge the surfing at a famed break in front of the village.

Organisers then said in November they had decided that

building a smaller, lighter tower

was the best option. This would allow for smaller installation equipment but would still require new foundations in the reef.

Separately, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini insisted a new track for sliding events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics could be built at Cortina d’Ampezzo, despite the plans previously being shelved.

Games chief Giovanni Malago told an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in October his organisation had been ordered by the Italian government to move the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions due to spiralling costs.

Malago had said the events would likely be held outside Italy. But Mr Salvini, also Transport Minister, said on Dec 5 that a new proposal for a track at Cortina could be made.

“The ministry of transport will develop a proposal that will not cost Italians a cent more. The aim is to present a project to decision makers as soon as possible,” the ministry said. REUTERS, AFP