While Paris is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics, the surfing events will take place nearly 15,800 kilometres away in Teahupo’o, a renowned surfing location in Tahiti.
Forty-eight surfers will compete in this picturesque village on the French Polynesian island, marking the farthest Olympic competition from the host city since 1956.
The decision to hold the surfing competition in Tahiti aligns with Paris officials' goal to "spread the Games across France," engaging French overseas territories in the Olympic experience for the first time.
“It offers an opportunity to engage French overseas territories and their communities in the Olympic Games — for the first time in history — while showcasing France’s rich and diverse heritage,” they said.
Teahupo’o, famous for its powerful and dangerous waves, has been a prime surfing destination for decades.
Athletes will reside in the first-ever floating Olympic Village, a cruise ship equipped with amenities including a 24-hour dining hall, a gift shop, a waterslide, and a tattoo parlor.
“I think our athlete village in Tahiti is better than the actual one in Paris,” Japanese surfer Kanoa Igarashi shared in a TikTok video.
Despite its appeal, the event has faced environmental concerns. Plans to construct a three-story aluminum tower for judges and cameras sparked criticism from environmental advocates and locals, worried about the impact on the coral reefs.
Local surfer Tahurai Henry voiced his concerns to NPR, stating, “Who is going to have to deal with it later on? It's us. It's our fishermen. It's our kids. It's our village.”
In response to the backlash, organizers announced last fall that they would scale back the tower's size and drilling requirements.
The structure will be dismantled and repurposed for future events, similar to its wooden predecessor.
The surfing competition is scheduled from July 27 to August 4, with athletes arriving earlier this week as the finishing touches are being applied to the venues.
Residents have prepared for the influx of visitors by extending business hours and hand-painting road signs for traffic safety.
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