Residents of the Tahitian village that will host the 2024 Olympic surfing event remain opposed to plans to build a new smaller judging tower on the reef, saying it will still damage corals and risk the health of the lagoon.
Locals from Teahupo’o last month protested plans by Games organisers to build a new 14 metre aluminium tower and a permanent 800m service pipeline to enable up to 40 people to watch, film and judge the surfing competition.
Games organisers including Paris 2024 and the French Polynesia government said this month they had decided building a new tower that is “less imposing and substantially reduced in size and weight” was the best option, after discussing issues raised by various stakeholders.
The new tower will be the same size and location as an older wooden tower that has been used by surfing’s professional world tour for its annual Teahupo’o event for years, allowing smaller equipment to install it on site.
Some facilities will be removed or made temporary, but new permanent foundations will still be needed for the tower to be certified, which is essential for insurance purposes, organisers said.
A group including local environmental organisations, residents and surfers said the planned compromise does not adequately address their concerns.
“For me, it seems impossible to build 12 new foundations without destroying the reef,” famed local surfer Matahi Drollet said in a video on social media, asking organisers for evidence existing foundations were not up to standard.
Mati Hoffann, a maritime works manager who worked on installing the original tower, said drilling new foundations represented a “considerable risk” for the reef.
“I’ve spent my life working in the Polynesian lagoon. I guarantee you that technical specifications have been respected: 20 years later, foundations are still intact.”
Paris 2024 did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
Drollet and other residents did not comment on whether further protests or other measures were planned but said they wanted their message to reach French President Emmanuel Macron and the minister of the environment.
“We are just trying to spread the message that no contest in this world is worth the destruction of nature,” Drollet said. “That goes against the true value of surfing and sport in general.” REUTERS
News Related
-
SYDNEY – World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will open their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International warm-up for the Australian Open, organisers said on Tuesday. Former world number one Naomi Osaka was already announced for the WTA 500 event, which is returning in the first ...
See Details:
Sabalenka, Rybakina to open new season in Brisbane
-
MANCHESTER – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has paid tribute to the “incredible” Terry Venables, hailing his impact at his former club Barcelona in the 1980s. After Venables died on Nov 25 aged 80, a picture emerged on social media showing a young Guardiola gazing up in admiration at the ...
See Details:
Pep Guardiola salutes Terry Venables’ influence at Barcelona
-
LONDON – Furious Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said bad refereeing decisions were hurting his reputation and “people’s livelihoods” after his team were on the wrong end of more VAR controversy in their 3-2 Premier League defeat at Fulham on Monday. Willian scored two penalties – including a stoppage-time winner – ...
See Details:
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil rages against VAR after Fulham defeat
-
SYDNEY – Matildas captain Sam Kerr will miss Australia’s upcoming international friendlies against Canada in Langford and Vancouver because of a foot injury. Striker Kerr will stay in London with her club Chelsea to receive treatment on the injury and has been replaced in the squad by uncapped 20-year-old midfielder ...
See Details:
Australia captain Kerr to miss Canada friendlies
-
SOFIA – The president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), Borislav Mihaylov, under pressure because of the national team’s failure to reach Euro 2024, announced his resignation on Monday after violent demonstrations by fans. “I have tendered my resignation in a spirit of appeasement,” said the 60-year-old, who has been ...
See Details:
Bulgarian football boss Mihaylov quits after fan pressure
-
NEWCASTLE – Newcastle United head into Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain looking to make the most of their momentum after bouncing back to winning ways in the Premier League, manager Eddie Howe said. Newcastle, who thrashed Chelsea 4-1 on Saturday, find themselves in a tricky Group F with ...
See Details:
Howe aims to boost Newcastle's momentum in Paris Saint-Germain clash
-
-
LONDON – Willian’s 94th-minute penalty, his second of the game, earned Fulham a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday. Alex Iwobi gave Fulham the lead after seven minutes with a delicate finish, turning Antonee Robinson’s cut-back through Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s legs from close ...
See Details:
Willian's penalty double earns Fulham 3-2 win over Wolves
-
LONDON – Willian’s 94th-minute penalty, his second of the game, earned Fulham a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday. Alex Iwobi gave Fulham the lead after seven minutes with a delicate finish, turning Antonee Robinson’s cut-back through Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s legs from close ...
See Details:
Ten-man Al-Nassr secure spot in Asian Champions League last 16
-
LONDON – Willian’s 94th-minute penalty, his second of the game, earned Fulham a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday. Alex Iwobi gave Fulham the lead after seven minutes with a delicate finish, turning Antonee Robinson’s cut-back through Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s legs from close ...
See Details:
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr reach Asian Champions League last 16 with Persepolis draw
-
LONDON – Willian’s 94th-minute penalty, his second of the game, earned Fulham a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday. Alex Iwobi gave Fulham the lead after seven minutes with a delicate finish, turning Antonee Robinson’s cut-back through Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s legs from close ...
See Details:
Spain’s Putellas pulls out of training camp due to knee injury
-
LONDON – Willian’s 94th-minute penalty, his second of the game, earned Fulham a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday. Alex Iwobi gave Fulham the lead after seven minutes with a delicate finish, turning Antonee Robinson’s cut-back through Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s legs from close ...
See Details:
Tiger Woods thinks he can play five to six events in 2024, says report
-
LONDON – Willian’s 94th-minute penalty, his second of the game, earned Fulham a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday. Alex Iwobi gave Fulham the lead after seven minutes with a delicate finish, turning Antonee Robinson’s cut-back through Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s legs from close ...
See Details:
Stadium renamed 'Christine Sinclair Place' for Canada football great's final game
-
LONDON – Willian’s 94th-minute penalty, his second of the game, earned Fulham a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Monday. Alex Iwobi gave Fulham the lead after seven minutes with a delicate finish, turning Antonee Robinson’s cut-back through Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s legs from close ...
See Details:
Carlos Fernando Galán aceptó invitación de Gustavo Petro para cambiar transporte de Bogotá
OTHER NEWS
Sports Illustrated Getty Earlier today, a lengthy piece on the web site Futurism began causing a stir among journalists at one of America’s most venerated media institutions. The piece alleged ...
Read more »
Sports Illustrated scrubbed its site of AI-generated content that included bylines and photos for authors that don’t exist, according to a report.The publication — once home to authors like John ...
Read more »
La señal que lleva el balompié criollo a las pantallas del país reveló a los nominados para su premiación de cierre de temporada. ¡Conoce todas las categorías y candidatos aquí! ...
Read more »
De nombreux élus dénoncent l’impact sur les usagers de l’accord entre l’État et Île-de-France Mobilités, alors même que Valérie Pécresse avait assuré ne pas vouloir faire payer le coût des ...
Read more »
Gary O’Neil said ‘maybe tonight has finally turned me against VAR’ after Wolves’ defeat (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Wire) Gary O’Neil admitted Wolves’ 3-2 defeat at Fulham may have ‘finally turned ...
Read more »
Nottingham Forest’s City Ground (Tim Goode/PA). (PA Archive) Nottingham Forest are working with the police to identify fans who are believed to have directed homophobic abuse at Brighton players and ...
Read more »
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil appeals during the Premier League match at Craven Cottage (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Wire) Gary O’Neil asked “what is the point in VAR?” after his Wolves ...
Read more »