Controversy in Tahiti: Are Olympic surfing games at risk due to environmental impact?

There are only a few years left for Paris to become the epicenter of the world's largest multi-sport celebration, the Olympic Games, but amid the excitement and anticipation, controversy has arisen regarding the selection of Tahiti as the venue for the surfing discipline for this grand event. While Tahiti is internationally recognized for its spectacular waves, its inclusion in the 2024 Paris Olympics has sparked controversy due to the environmental impacts caused by the construction of a new aluminum tower for the competition judges in the Teahupo'o area. Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia in the South Pacific, has been chosen to host the surfing competition at the 2024 Olympic Games due to the quality of the waves at Teahupo'o, making it a renowned destination for surfers worldwide. However, the construction of a new aluminum tower for the judges has drawn criticism and concerns over its impact on the coral reef located in front of Teahupo'o. The controversy escalated when a video surfaced of a boat stuck on the reef, causing damage to the corals, leading environmental preservation experts to criticize the event's lack of sustainability. According to experts like Alexandra Dempsey, a coral reef ecologist, the damage to the reef and the structure that has created the famous waves of Teahupo'o raises uncertainties about the long-term consequences of these interventions in the marine ecosystem. In response to the criticisms, the Paris 2024 commission has defended the construction of the new aluminum tower, ensuring that efforts have been made to minimize the environmental impact and guarantee the longevity of the structure, which is crucial for hosting future sporting events at Teahupo'o. They claim that the new tower has a less imposing design and has been installed on permanent foundations that will allow certification for 10 years. Tim McKenna, a renowned photographer residing in Tahiti, has supported the construction of the aluminum tower, arguing that the area where it stands has little coral and that the structure will ensure the safety and viability of future surfing events at Teahupo'o for the next two decades. According to him, this investment made by the Tahitian government is necessary to maintain the infrastructure in optimal conditions. Despite the organizers' efforts to minimize the environmental impact and ensure the safety of the new aluminum tower, criticisms and concerns about the preservation of the coral reef and the marine ecosystem of Teahupo'o persist. The controversy surrounding Tahiti's inclusion as the surfing venue in the 2024 Paris Olympics raises questions about the priority between hosting high-level sporting events and protecting the environment, a debate that will surely continue to generate discussion in the months leading up to the highly anticipated event.