In face of protests by ecologists and residents of Teahupo'o in the French Polynesia which will host the surfing competitions of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the organisers have decided to review the design of the tower, cutting down its weight and size in order to minimise the impact on the coral reef on which the tower will be built.

The Polynesian Government, Paris 2024 and the Haut-Commissariat have confirmed that the Olympic Games surfing events will indeed take place at Teahupo’o in the French Polynesia, about 16,000 km away from Paris in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

In a press statement, the organisers say that they have decided to maintain the events at the Teahupo’o site with a proposition of a new, more moderate judges’ tower.

They say that the Polynesian Government, Paris 2024 and the Haut-Commissariat have studied all possible options to improve the project in recent weeks. These options have emerged in light of the concerns expressed about the installation of a new judges’ tower and its foundations for the organisation of the Olympic Games surfing events and other competitions. 

The Polynesian Government, Paris 2024 and the Haut-Commissariat say that they have also sought to respond to all questions raised, in order to provide clarity over certain misconceptions regarding the project. They say that their decision has been taken, based on four priorities.

The main basis of holding the event in Teapuho was the desire to put the iconic Teahupo’o wave in the spotlight, saying that the choice of Teahupo’o as the venue for the Olympic Games surfing events, comes from a shared ambition by the Paris 2024 teams, the various departments of the country, the State, the municipalities concerned and the International Surfing Federation (ISA) to guarantee a sporting competition of the highest standard at the Olympic Games and to put the iconic Teahupo’o wave, French Polynesia and its culture in the global spotlight.

They say that they have also taken into account the exceptional environment of the Teahupo’o site, adding that the protection of the natural environment at Teahupo’o has always been a priority in the conception of all envisaged solutions for the site. All development plans at Teahupo’o have been studied to minimise impact on the environment. This has been the aim of all the studies carried out with a view of organising the Games, and in particular the environmental support mission during the design and construction phase of the new tower.

Another priority for the organisers was to ensure a proper organisation of competitions in compliance with safety standards. They say that as the current judges’ tower does not meet current safety standards, it will no longer be used and must be replaced if Teahupo’o is to continue to organise surfing events, whether for the Olympic Games or any other competition. The second issue is that the tower must be able to guarantee good conditions for the refereeing of the competition, in particular by offering the judges the necessary visibility over the entire wave.

Another factor, the organisers say was the legacy for future sporting events organised in Teahupo’o as the long-term future of the Tahiti Pro in Teahupo’o is a priority for the Polynesian Government and for Paris 2024. The new project must offer a long-term solution that guarantees the proper organisation of future competitions.  

Smaller, leaner & lighter tower

The organisers say that during this new evaluation phase, all the options were put on the table and examined, based on the priorities shared by the project’s stakeholders. All consulting agencies including architecture, project management, technical compliance, structural studies, the technical services of the country, the Haut-Commissariat and Paris 2024, as well as the public work organisations, have been fully committed in carrying the various complementary studies required.

These include the option to certify the existing wooden tower and using the existing foundations, but a detailed study concluded that it was not possible to certify the current wooden tower, even following renovation as it was over 20 years old and was no longer considered to be safe. 

Similarly, it could not be reinforced or renovated without causing even greater damage to the coral reef and natural ecology there than the previous design approved earlier. They also considered the option of having the judges on the shore or on a boat, but held that as the Teahupo’o wave is 750m from the nearest point on land. The judges therefore do not have sufficient visibility of the wave from the shore, and this distance does not allow television coverage of the required quality. In addition, the angle offered from the shore does not ensure a good view of the entire wave and the surfers’ sessions. Similarly, a bot was also deemed impossible.

Finally, from a legacy standpoint, the World Surf League has been using a Judges’ Tower for over 20 years. The construction of a tower compliant so safety standards is therefore necessary to enable competitions to take place at Teahupo’o in the long term.  

Therefore, with responsibility and safety a leading factor, the committee has decided to use a leaner, smaller that is less imposing and substantially reduced in size and weight was judged to be the best option. 

Thus the new tower would reduce the surface area of the new tower by 50 sqm to bring it back to the size of the old wooden tower of 150 sqm and cutting the weight to 9 tonnes, as opposed to 14 tonnes earlier. They will also cut the number of people on the tower at any moment from 40 to about 25.

The organisers add that the Polynesian Government, Paris 2024 and the High Commission will continue to pursue a spirit of dialogue and transparency until the Games, should it be with the municipalities concerned, representatives of environmental associations, the local surfing community and local residents, to ensure that the Games are a success for Tahiti and its people.

Monthly public meetings will be held in Teahupo’o from January 2024 and an Olympic Games Information Office will also be opened from January 2024 with representatives of the Polynesian Government, the West Taiarapu Tourism Committee and Paris 2024 to inform and answer questions from local residents and stakeholders.

In addition, the stakeholders confirm the standing invitation extended to the representatives of the associations to attend each stage of the construction work at which they deem it necessary to be present.