The existing wooden Judges Tower-b. Photo: Supplied
French Polynesia's hosting of the 2024 Olympic Games surfing competitions, on the iconic site of Teahupoo, is at the centre of a double controversy, on both environmental and political fronts.
Over the past few weeks, a petition opposing the construction of a new tower for the judges of the global surfing event has been gathering momentum.
French Polynesia's Teahupoo world-famous site has been chosen to host the surfing competition as part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Opponents argue that the existing wooden tower can be used, instead of erecting a new one on the reef.
They say the new aluminium tower would potentially damage the coral reef, threaten the ecosystem and in the worst case scenario could even modify enough the shape of the reef that the mythic wave it generates could lose its world-renowned shape.
To date, the online petition has gathered over to 150,000 signatures from both local residents and surf aficionados worldwide, after an initial on-site demonstration mobilised over 400 participants.
The furore comes despite assurances from both French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson and Paris 2024 organising committee (OGOC) head Tony Estanguet.
Both Brotherson and Estanguet stressed that the existing wooden tower did not meet the OG standards both on technical and safety grounds.
It was therefore not certified, as a result of earlier inspections made as early as 2008, under a previous French Polynesian government.
This is even though the World Surf League (WSL) has been using it for the past twenty years.
The new 14-meter high aluminium tower has already been built by a local contractor, is ready to be installed at an estimated cost of some US$5 million.
It complied with technical specifications which required one air-conditioned and moist-free room for the judges but also for the computer servers that will be required to despatch the signal for a world-wide television and Internet audience.
French Polynesia's sports minister Nahema Temarii was in Paris last week to try and iron out the issue with OGOC.
She said the matter needed to be resolved urgently, otherwise preparations for the OG surfing event schedule would be late.
However, planned works for the construction have been suspended until 20 November, she told local media.
The new aluminium Judges Tower artists impression. Several associations are concerned about the environmental impact of the construction of a new aluminum tower intended for judges. Photo: Supplied
Paris Lady Mayor's controversial trip
The second controversy surrounding the surfing's host site for Olympic Games Paris 2024 comes directly from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has just returned on Monday from a much talked-about trip to New Caledonia, then French Polynesia.
The voyage was announced from 16 to 22 October and then Hidalgo went virtually missing for over a week before returning to Paris at the weekend.
Over the past week, French media have been abuzz with the Lady Mayor's Pacific trip.
The trip (and its private extension) came under heavy fire, notably by right-wing parties (who are the opposition to Socialist Hidalgo within the Paris municipal Council), because of its cost and carbon-emission total.
The controversy reached a point that Hidalgo's office had to publish a release on Monday upon her return to Paris.
Hidalgo's Pacific trip delegation was made up of six members, including her officers in charge of Olympic Games (Pierre Rabadan) and Overseas (Jacques Martial).
A visit by Hidalgo to Teahupoo was indeed on the agenda, amongst other matters, but she eventually skipped it, upon advice from French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson, who had told her this was « probably not a good idea » due to current tensions related to the judges' tower controversy, the release pointed out
Only Rabadan went to Teahupoo, Hidalgo's office clarified on Monday.
The total cost of the trip was announced at some 59,540 Euros (including 40.955 Euros for transportation and 18.545 Euros for accommodation and meals), the release detailed, adding that the official trip's duration was extended by a « private time ».
The private extension « was fully paid on her own funds » for accommodation and return trip, Hidalgo's office added.
It has since transpired that she took the additional time to visit her daughter, who currently lives in French Polynesia's Raiatea.
Anne Hidalgo with Paris 2024. Photo: Le Parisien