Sustainable development is not just an ‘objective’, it is inscribed in the DNA of a bid that involves all the athletes and partners of Paris 2024’, said Tony Estanguet, the co-president of the Paris 2024 Public Interest Group in 2015 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. He detailed the aims of the French bid in terms of sustainable development and respect for the environment during a conference dedicated to ‘Sustainable Innovation in French Sport’. Now, 8 years later, with less than 1 year until The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, organizers of the Paris 2024 Games continue to come under scrutiny following their decision to build a $5 million judging tower on Teahupoo’s coral reef in Tahiti for the surfing event.
This decision has triggered protests in Tahiti, with concerns raised about potential harm to coral and marine life. Social media campaigns, led by Tahitian big wave pro surfer Matahi Drollet, have gained substantial support on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The reason is simple:
Teahupo’o, Tahiti, approximately 9,759 miles away from Paris, is renowned as one of the world’s premier surf spots, hosting World Surf League (WSL) tour competitions. Due to Teahupo’o’s offshore surf breaks, competition judges must be positioned in the lagoon. Traditionally, a wooden structure is erected for these competitions and later removed. However, for the Olympic event, organizers plan to install a new aluminum tower attached to the reef, intending to accommodate 40 people for judging and televising the competition.
Origins of the Controversy: Paris 2024’s Initial Decision and Tahitian Backlash
Island critics have expressed profound concerns regarding the potential impact on coral reefs, fish, and other marine life as the tower’s foundations are slated to be drilled into the seabed. French Polynesia boasts a rich marine life, with over 1,000 fish species and 150 coral species, all highly protected. These concerns intensified significantly by the close of 2023, triggered by coral damage during the testing phase of a barge intended for constructing the tower in the surfing lagoon. This incident prompted local authorities to take decisive action by halting the construction. Adding to the urgency, in early December, during a fresh round of testing, a construction barge designated for installing an aluminum judges’ tower in the sea, with an anticipated height of 14 meters (46 feet), inflicted further damage on the beach’s corals.
The momentum of an online petition aimed at halting construction on Teahupo’o’s reef is growing, as organizers advocate for people to join the transformative movement—urging signatures, shares, and the tagging of relevant authorities, all under the hashtag #SaveTeahupoo. Alexandra Dempsey, a coral reef ecologist and CEO of Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, highlighted the potential threat to the coral formation that contributes to making Tahiti an ideal location for professional surfing. In parallel, 11-time world champion Kelly Slater has weighed in on the revised plans for the platform, reportedly asserting that it “doesn’t make any sense to need such a giant tower for a 2-day event.”
Compromises and Adjustments: Olympic Committee’s Modifications and Rationale
The Polynesian Government, Paris 2024, and the Haut-Commissariat jointly stated that the current wooden tower can’t be used because its foundations don’t meet standards anymore. Fixing it up wasn’t an option either, as that would harm the coral reef on the concrete blocks more than building new foundations in a less coral-rich area.
Therefore, the Olympic Committee has made a final decision to continue with the building of the new aluminum tower, with some modifications. The surface area of the tower will be 25% smaller than the original plans, making it the same size as the existing wooden tower. The weight of the new tower will now be nine tons – instead of the original 14 tons – to reduce the load on the foundations and will be installed on the same site as the old wooden tower. The committee has also claimed that the tower will be built in an area with fewer corals, the existing corals will be moved, and cuttings will be taken to ensure they can regrow. So, the Olympic Committee has decided to stick with the plan for the new aluminum tower but with some changes – they’re making the tower 25% smaller than they first thought, so it matches the size of the current wooden one. The new tower will be set up in the same spot as the old wooden one, and its weight will be nine tons instead of the initial 14 tons, easing the load on the foundations.
Continued Opposition: Viral Videos, Barge Struggles, and Public Outcry
However, the issue seems to be far from resolved. After a string of viral videos featuring a barge was released, protesters once again stepped forward to boycott the new construction. In the videos, the barge is seen struggling to navigate the coral reef, repeatedly getting stuck and attempting to free itself by revving the engines. The footage also exposes damage caused to corals by the propeller, with large sections of vibrant coral sliced off, exposing the white skeleton. Despite the public backlash, organizers of Paris 2024 plan to continue with the outlined plan and have the new tower built and ready by the start of the Olympic surfing event in July.
From plant-based meat alternatives and reusable water bottles to electric cars and online casinos, many other industries have been working hard to bring more environmentally friendly alternatives to their products and services. However, the approach taken by both the Olympic Committee and the Polynesian Government suggests that environmental sustainability is not a priority for either of the parties. Jeopardizing ecosystems and livelihoods for a mere four days of competition raises questions about the genuine environmental commitment of the involved organizations, and for many, it is a prime example of greenwashing. Only time will tell how the situation unfolds, but one thing’s for sure: the whole world will be watching.