Paris 2024 announced today that work will resume at Teahupo’o this week following reef destruction caused by a barge earlier this month, according to the Associated Press.
Work was put on pause last week after a video of a barge breaking the reef at Teahupo’o sparked even more outrage and heartbreak among Tahitians and surfers worldwide.
Controversy over the massive Olympic judging tower planned for Chopes has raged on since October when Tahitians peacefully protested it and launched a petition that’s gained over 210,000 signatures.
The post above from October shows the peaceful protest against the tower.
The Associated Press reported this morning:
“Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris Olympics organizing committee, said Monday that preparations at Teahupo’o will start again this week. The resumption comes after the president of French Polynesia, Moetai Brotherson, held talks with groups on the island that are concerned about plans to build a tower for surfing judges and television cameras in the Teahupo’o lagoon, fearing it will damage the coral reefs.
“Work stopped earlier this month at the site after coral was damaged during a test of a barge meant to transport the aluminum judging tower into the lagoon so it can be fixed onto planned concrete foundations.
“The test ‘went very badly,’ Estanguet acknowledged.
“A smaller barge has now been located ‘to not damage the coral,’ and a route for it through the reef to the construction site will be found and marked out this week, he said.
“Work to erect the tower should start by the end of the year so it will be operational for a surfing competition at Teahupo’o in May that will test the venue’s readiness for the Olympics in July, Estanguet said.
“’We welcome this progress,’ he said.”
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