Will Olympic Surfing Cause Catastrophic Damage to Tahiti? (Video)
The Olympics, notoriously, have a history of ravaging host cities.
From environmental destruction, to displacement of residents, it’s a blessing and a curse for the Olympics to come to town. On one hand, it’s an economic opportunity. On the other, there’s potential for irreparable damage in the wake of the Games.
As for Paris 2024 – which will go down July 26th-August 11th, 2024 – there’s an interesting, and highly controversial, situation unfolding nearly 10,000 miles away from the city of love, and smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Teahupo’o, Tahiti will host the surfing portion of the Games. It’s one of the world’s best and most challenging surf spots, which will certainly provide ample entertainment for viewers. However, as Paris 2024 gets closer, preparation for the event is having negative environmental effects on the coveted, rural surfing and fishing community.
“This wave is so special,” says Teahupo’o local, Peva Levy, in the report from the AP above. “We have to share it. We’re happy to receive those people, because we have to share it. But we have to be careful about doing bad things to the environment.”
Levy continued:
“Every day, since almost one year now, they are digging, digging, digging in the river. I don’t know why. And we have dirty water. We cannot go fishing anymore, because we can’t see anything. It’s very dirty.”
One of the primary causes for controversy regarding the Olympics at Teahupo’o is the new judging tower to be installed on the reef facing the wave. It’s huge, built from aluminum, and the installation has already caused damage to the reef ecosystem.
Related: Surfing Activists Defeated; Teahupo'o Aluminum Tower Confirmed for Paris 2024 Olympics
“The first test they did with a barge broke apart a patch of coral,” said environmental activist Cindy Otcenasek, “so Paris 2024 has sacrificed a patch of coral. Paris 2024 has sacrificed corals in order to hold these Olympic Games. No scientist that has been involved in the construction of this tower has been able to assure us that this construction has no impact on the wave.”
For their part, Olympic organizers have heard the environmental concerns from the locals and activists. They’ve scaled back the judging tower. But they’re still moving forward, regardless. And when it’s all said and done, the damage Paris 2024 will cause to Teahupo’o remains to be seen.
“The environment is so fragile,” continued Levy, “so we have to protect it. If not, we will lose everything. Everything.”
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