2023-12-11 15:36:21
The organizers of the Paris Olympic Games can breathe easy, at least until the next twist in this issue, which is not lacking. The surfing events should be well contested in Tahiti. This Sunday, the Polynesian president, Moetai Brotherson, reassured everyone by declaring: “the solution that we managed to get adopted this evening allows the Olympics to be held here and for the WSL (World Surf League) to maintain a stage annual world tour. A relief for the organizers, who feared the outcome of a meeting between them, elected officials and associations defending the site to discuss the replacement of a wooden judges’ tower, a source of tension for several months.
This wooden tower, too obsolete and not up to standard for the Olympic Games, had to be replaced. But not at the risk of damaging the corals of the reef. On December 1, a test was undertaken on the legendary Teahupoo site but the barge, which must be used to transport the new judges’ tower, had damaged these corals, which had provoked the anger of environmental defense associations and suspension of work. An investigation had even been opened and entrusted to the central office for combating attacks on the environment and public health.
This Sunday, a very important meeting was held to decide the fate of this new tower. A new project, less ambitious but more environmentally friendly, was presented there. And, without unanimous approval, it was adopted.
How did this meeting go?
The President of Polynesia, Moetai Brotherson, the Minister of Sport, Nahema Temarii, a representative of the High Commission, the mayor of Teahupoo, three design offices and associations were present at this meeting, which lasted five hours at the Vairao town hall. The objective was clear: to reduce the impact on the environment as much as possible, even if new drilling in the coral is necessary for the construction of this new aluminum tower, lighter and smaller than the one previously envisaged.
Despite some tensions, the discussions took place in a generally frank and calm atmosphere. The new lightweight tower project, in the same dimensions as the old wooden tower, reassured the majority of participants. Several associations have also recognized the government’s efforts, ensuring they have confidence in the country even if the impact on the coral on December 1 remains damaging. In everyone’s opinion, the financial stakes were too high to give up hosting the events.
What will this aluminum tower look like?
The new project presented is much less impactful than the previous one. The lightweight tower should only weigh 9.75 tonnes and measure 150 m2, compared to the 15 tonnes of the tower initially imagined (200 m2). The number of people who will be able to access this platform will also be reduced (25 to 31 people instead of 40). The toilets and the water network are abandoned.
During the meeting, Moetai Brotherson assured that he had received the unanimous support of all the mayors, the surfing federation and associations, with the exception of one surfer and the Vai Ara Teahupoo association. At the microphone of Polynésie la 1ère, the secretary of this association, Astrid Drollet, also confirmed her disagreement: “we fear that there will be damage, they went once one morning, they broke, we found lots of pieces of coral, we even found pieces of propeller in the coral, she explained. We’re not going to spend our time monitoring every time they send a boat there to send equipment or personnel. »
However, the wooden tower could not be preserved. The various design offices contacted had all expressed an unfavorable opinion. “The WSL threatens, if the tower is not ready in May, to withdraw Tahiti from international competitions,” said the High Commissioner on Polynesia the 1st. In addition, if the objective was to preserve the wooden judges’ tower, particularly traumatic work for the environment would have had to be undertaken to analyze the state of the iron rods which hold this structure. “Additional and unacceptable environmental damage” for the High Commissioner.
What is the work schedule?
Four months of work are now planned. The objective is clear: to be ready for May 13, five days before the World Surf League stage on the archipelago, which will serve as a test event before the Olympic Games. According to the forecast schedule, the construction of the foundations at sea should begin this Monday, and will last until February 23. At the same time, technical installations at sea will be undertaken. It will then be time to assemble the aluminum structure and install the underwater network before installing all the technology on the tower when it is definitively installed. On May 13, testing can begin. They will last until June 7, a month and a half before the start of the Olympic Games.
The High Commissioner in French Polynesia welcomed these developments, which he believes will leave a great legacy in Tahiti. “Sanitation, fast internet, redone marinas, new footbridge… There will be a before and an after,” he assured Polynésie la 1ère at the microphone. We will do what is necessary to ensure that these Olympic Games are held and are a celebration for all of Polynesia. »
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