Controversy in Paris 2024: Teahupo'o, the venue that awaits Olympic surfing

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, iconic symbols like the Eiffel Tower and Versailles will take center stage, but surfing will draw fans to Teahupo'o in Tahiti. Known for its legendary and extremely dangerous waves, Teahupo'o will host the event starting July 27.

Recognized as one of the world’s most notorious surf spots, Teahupo'o on Tahiti’s southwestern coast offers an iconic backdrop for the Olympic event, with world-class waves that will be tackled by top surfers.

In 2013, Teahupo'o was ranked third on CNN's list of the top 50 surfing destinations in the world. It is known for its short yet intense breaks over a razor-sharp reef. Its name, meaning "wall of skulls," reflects its reputation as a challenging and potentially dangerous spot.

Pictured is Italo Ferreira of Brazil competing in the men’s semi-finals of the Shiseido Tahiti Pro on May 30, 2024, at Teahupo'o.

Teahupo'o, located 15,600 kilometers (a 21-hour flight) from Paris, will be one of the most distant Olympic venues in history.

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Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, praised the island's magic and its impressive waves after his 2022 visit, asserting that Tahiti will provide the most spectacular conditions for surfers.

Located in the South Pacific and with a twelve-hour time difference, the Polynesian island was competing with Biarritz, Lacanau, Hossegor-Seignosse-Capbreton, and La Torche as possible destinations for the event, according to France 24.

French surfer Vahine Fierro (pictured) holds the Olympic flame during the relay in Teahupo'o.

The inclusion of Tahiti in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games reflects the organizers' commitment to expanding the event throughout French territory.

Olympic organizers initially decided to replace the wooden tower (pictured) in Teahupo'o Lagoon with a 14-meter aluminum structure. This decision sparked a fierce dispute between critics and defenders of the Olympic Games.

The rising tension prompted Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo (pictured) to cancel her planned visit to Teahupo'o during an official trip to Tahiti in late October 2023, as reported by La Nación.

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La Nación further reports that Teahupo'o native surfer Matahi Drollet (pictured) is a prominent activist against the new $5 million (€4.5m/£3.8m) aluminum tower. In a public appeal, he urged the president of French Polynesia, Moetai Brotherson, to visit the affected area to see firsthand the rich marine ecosystem that locals do not want to lose.

Some critics saw the tower as a symbol of colonialism and accused organizers of failing to live up to their sustainability promises. Alexandra Dempsey, an environmentalist, and CEO of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, expressed concern about possible damage to the corals that make Tahiti an ideal destination for professional surfing, according to a CNN article.

"Local communities are culturally connected to the ocean and the reefs that create waves in the area. The perfect wave is the natural result of how the reef has formed over millions of years," he told CNN.

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"Not only is the ecology of the reef being damaged, but also the structure that creates the waves for which this location was chosen. The consequences of damaging the reef system are not clear," he added.

Environmentalists and local fishermen fear that drilling the coral reef could promote the proliferation of ciguatera, a microscopic algae that contaminates fish and can cause illness in people who consume them. Many residents depend on fishing for their food, notes an article in Euro News.

In French Polynesia, the Tahiti tourism office reports over 1,000 species of fish and 150 species of coral in the area. These corals will face threats from climate change and mass tourism if proper precautions are not taken.

Consequently, the Paris 2024 commission decided to build a scaled-down version of the new aluminium tower, after considering options such as reinforcing or certifying the existing tower, building a new one made of wood, or allowing judges to evaluate from land or boat.

A press release emphasized that plans for Teahupo'o were designed to minimize environmental impact, with detailed studies conducted during the design and construction phases of the new tower.

Organizers explained that the new smaller and lighter tower, with new permanent foundations, will ensure its durability.

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"Over time, corals have even covered the old concrete structure of the tower," he said. In addition, he clarified that "the new tower is not exclusive for the Olympic Games; it is a folding structure that will be assembled annually during events."

"The aluminum structure, designed and built exclusively in Tahiti, can finally be certified for insurance and safety. It is an investment that the Tahitian government has made to ensure surfing events in Teahupo'o for the next 20 years."

(Eleven-time WSL champion Kelly Slater of the United States is pictured)

"The Teahupo'o space will continue to host the World Surf Tour. The small-scale facilities made for the Games will be removed after the Olympic competition. The Athletes' Village, established with structures based on traditional Polynesian homes known as “farès”, will be relocated and re-established as social housing, thus benefiting local communities," reports France 24, highlighting the long-term plans for the post-Olympic structures.

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