The International Surfing Federation (ISA) proposed on Tuesday to do without the Teahupo’o judges’ tower for the Olympic Games in Tahiti, because its construction is controversial due to its impact on the environment. A position that the President of French Polynesia Moetai Brotherson considered very late.
Published on: 12/20/2023 – 11:47
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“It’s a little late to wake up.” The President of French Polynesia Moetai Brotherson deplored on Tuesday December 19 the position considered late by the International Surfing Federation (ISA) which proposed to do without the Teahupo’o judges’ tower for the Olympic Games in Tahiti.
In a press release, the International Surfing Federation (ISA) proposed to the Polynesian government and the organizing committee of the Paris Olympics to abandon building a controversial tower to judge the event in Teahupo’o via images taken from the shore , sea and air.
The ISA proposes to do without the tower
“On December 9, the ISA sent a proposal to the Polynesian government and the organizers of Paris 2024 to hold the Olympic surfing event in Teahupo’o without building a new tower on the reef,” explains the body in a press release dated Tuesday.
The ISA proposes to judge the event with “live images from land, water and drones”.
“Faced with this change of position, Paris 2024 will contact the key players in the matter, the Polynesian government, the International Surfing Federation, the WSL and OBS (broadcaster of the Olympic Games, editor’s note) to understand how the ISA envisages the organization of the events without having to resort to a judges’ tower, taking into account the sporting, television broadcasting, budgetary and heritage issues”, reacted Tuesday evening the organizing committee of the Paris Olympics (Cojo).
“They should have positioned themselves from the start by telling us: ‘We believe that we can judge from the ground’. At that point, we would have put ourselves in working order to find solutions techniques”, Moetai Brotherson told AFP, adding that he had not obtained more details “on the drone models” nor on “the camera models” envisaged.
“Only realistic technical option”
“What the ISA is proposing to us is to nevertheless use a platform located at the level of the judges’ tower, because from the ground, it is not possible to film (…) Only, this platform must be 6 m above the water (…) and men are needed on board. This therefore brings us back to the initial problem which is that of safety (…) This does not bring, ultimately, no real solutions,” he regretted.
“We made the decision to take the only realistic technical option that allows us to both meet deadlines and operate with minimal damage to the environment,” he said.
Tests of the new lightweight barges intended for the work were carried out on Friday and “went very well”, continued Moetai Brotherson, although beacons were removed on one of the channels. A complaint against X was also filed by Polynesia.
“The drilling work will begin (…) There is no plan B. The Games will be held in Teahupo’o,” insisted Moetai Brotherson.
For several months, the project to build a new judges’ tower located on the reef, at Teahupo’o, has raised concerns from environmental protection associations and certain local residents. Big names in surfing have also opposed this aluminum structure.
The ISA’s proposal was made when the Polynesian government announced that the event could be held at the Teahupo’o site on December 10. Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson presented a work schedule which should result in a functional tower on May 13, a few days before the World Surf League (WSL) world tour stop.
With AFP
