after the protest, construction of the tower for surfing events in Polynesia began – Libération

After weeks of controversy, the Polynesian president authorized a new system to shelter the judges during the surfing event this summer. The foundations have just been completed.

This is the end of a conflict that had lasted since the fall. The first stage of the construction of the very controversial judges’ tower for the surfing event of the Paris Olympic Games took place peacefully this week at the Teahupo’o site (Polynesia). The foundations of the tower are now complete and assembly of the tower, pre-built on dry land, is due to begin on March 11. Delivery is scheduled for May 13, a few days before the Tahiti Pro, an annual World Surf League competition.

On this Teahupo’o site, known worldwide for its famous wave and its transparent waters, the replacement of a wooden tower, which no longer met standards, with an aluminum structure fueled strong tensions, particularly on the part of environmental defenders. A petition against the construction of this facility has gathered more than 250,000 signatories.

“We dropped the matter”

In December, the broadcast of a video showing a barge accidentally breaking coral amplified the anger of opponents. The government of French Polynesia had openly questioned the holding of the test, then revised the initial project. Its president, Moetai Brotherson, had announced the construction of a lighter and lower tower, under the supervision of two figures respected by local surfers, Pascal Luciani and Moana David.

“The supervision of the construction site by the teams who have been building the tower for twenty years, the opening of the information kiosk and local consultation on environmental and heritage issues have encouraged a return to calm,” Barbara Martins welcomed Friday evening. Nio, manager of the Tahiti site for Cojo, the Games organizing committee.

“We gave up on the matter,” however regretted Cindy Otsenasek, president of Vai Ara o Teahupoo, the association most mobilized against the work, which considers having done “everything that was possible within the limits of legality”. During the last weeks of work, “there have been fourteen impacts on the coral, that’s not much,” declared Pascal Luciani. “Nature will always take back its rights, even without coral cuttings,” added Moana David.

The Olympic surfing event is scheduled for July 27 to 30, with a possible extension until August 5 if the swell is delayed. Two Polynesian surfers, Kauli Vaast and Vahine Fierro, will wear the colors of France.