TE WAIKAMIHI LAMBERT | NGĀTI AWA, TŪHOE & NGĀPUHI.
As the 2024 Olympic Games draw closer, a wave of concern is rising from the residents of Tahiti. The world-renowned surfing venue at Teahupo’o, chosen for its formidable waves, is now at the center of an environmental dispute. Local communities argue that a new judging tower to be built on Teahupo’o reef is going to ruin Tahiti’s delicate coral reefs. This could potentially devastate the marine ecosystem, the local economy and the cultural connection that Māohi people have to that reef.
Teahupo’o, a small town in Tahiti, will host the Olympic surfing event, bringing an influx of spectators, officials, and security. The construction of a new aluminum judging tower, replacing an existing wooden one, has been particularly controversial. Local Māohi surfers and fishermen, through the Vai Ara o Teahupo’o Association, have led protests and social media campaigns against the tower's construction. A petition against the project has garnered over 195,000 signatures.
The Polynesian Government, Paris 2024, and the Haut-Commissariat have proposed a new plan for the judging tower. Instead, a smaller, lighter aluminum tower will be constructed. This revised plan includes reducing the surface area by 25% and reducing the weight by 5 tons. However, this still involves drilling foundation rods into the reef, although not as deep as initially planned.
The committee has assured locals that the tower will be built in an area with fewer corals and that existing corals will be relocated to promote regrowth. However, Titouan Bernicot of Coral Gardeners argues that coral replanting is a challenging process and that the reef will suffer long-term damage.
Despite the committee's adjustments, activists remain unsatisfied, claiming the reef will still be adversely affected. Concerns also extend to the transportation barges used for construction, which have been seen damaging the reef despite assurances of using a smaller, less harmful barge. Videos have surfaced showing significant coral damage caused by the barge, contradicting the committee's claims.
Activists advocate for the continued use of the existing wooden tower, highlighting its successful use in past international competitions. They argue that the new construction could disrupt the delicate marine ecosystem, impacting local biodiversity and the fishing economy. There is also the risk of ciguatera, a neurotoxin produced by microalgae that grows on dead coral. This toxin is harmless to fish but can cause severe illness in humans who consume contaminated seafood. Increased levels of ciguatera could render local fish inedible, further threatening the livelihoods of Teahupo’o’s local residents.
Despite the controversy, Paris 2024 has a claimed commitment to sustainability initiatives, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of the Games by 50%, and ensuring 95% of infrastructure is either temporary or already existing. This includes housing athletes on a cruise ship instead of building new facilities.
However, critics argue that the judging tower represents greenwashing, with construction impacts overlooked. They contend that true environmental conservation would not risk ecosystems and livelihoods for a brief event. The Olympic Committee must honor its sustainability commitments by ensuring the Teahupo’o reef remains undamaged, respecting local wishes and ecological integrity.