‘Defend Teahupo’o’: Controversial Olympic surf tower in Tahiti gets green light

Construction on a new judges tower for the 2024 Olympic surfing games in Teahupo’o was halted in December 2023 after a workers' vessel damaged the coral reef.

AFP (Agence France-Presse) reports French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson saying the work resumed earlier this week and is “going well”.

Brotherson said two thirds of the drilling is complete and a start is being made on the foundation blocks.

A change of tune from the head of the country as after the damage to the reef was caused, he had proposed different locations to Teahupo’o.

According to the Olympics Committee the current wooden tower doesn’t meet safety standards and will be replaced with a near $5million USD facility that included flushing toilets, air conditioning, and capacity for 40 people. It also would have covered some 200 square metres.

MEGA Lab Scientists estimate the impact area to be roughly 2,500 square metres including dredging for the barge path, but it is unknown how fringe damages could affect the surrounding reef ecosystem.

In a statement advising against the build, scientists say, “if this were to occur, it could cause a direct financial impact of at least $1.3 million USD by damaging the live reef habitat.”

Local environmental organisations campaigned against the build, highlighting the potentially irreparable impacts to the marine ecosystems.

The December incident fuelled their cause and a petition started by the Association Vai Ara O Teahupo’o gained almost 250,000 signatures, with social media users calling for a “boycott” of the entire Olympic surfing competition.

Social media comments joining in the call to oppose the tower build. Photo/screenshot

Since mid-December 2023, back and forth between the Olympics Organising Committee (OOC), President Brotherson, and the ISA (International Surfing Association) who run the Olympic surfing programme but oppose the tower construction, has ultimately decided for a “reworked” version of the aluminium judges tower.

The facility will weigh nine tonnes instead of the planned 14, catering to 25-30 officials, and no longer tapping into fresh water sources for drinking and waste water.

Olympic organisers claim they’ve done expert studies on “reinforcing existing foundations without drilling”, and propose anchoring 288 new steel bars at a depth of 1.5m.

OOC President Tony Estanguet says while environmental concerns remain, the decision to proceed with the tower construction was at the “explicit request” of local authorities.

Proposed plans for the new surf judging tower for the 2024 Olympic Games. Photo/Paris2024

Local environmental advocate and pro surfer Matahi Drollet, posted to his social media a first-hand analysis of public sentiment.

He says government officials have too big an ego to admit the long term damage they’re causing.

“Since the beginning we’ve tried to talk to them but they say they’ve got their engineers, and people with their diplomas and degrees. It’s hard for them to listen to a little surfer from the end of the road.

“The real problem is to build this tower these guys have to get to the (location) and there’s 500m of shallow water and coral heads everywhere.”

Drollet says he will continue to be vocal about the protection of the environment and hopes more people will join his stance.

“I think it’s just not ok to watch people from outside come into our playground, the place where we fish and get our food from, and just f*** up everything for just two days of contest. My only goal is to defend Teahupo’o.”

The tower is expected to be fully functioning by May 13 for the World Surf League Global Tour stage - a warm up for the July Olympics.