Paris 2024 Barge Damages Coral Reef off Teahupo’o
Locals are calling to halt construction; Paris 2024 has other plans
Image: Yohan Lafond, Adobe Stock
A Paris 2024 barge destroyed coral reef off the coast of Teahupo'o on December 6. The barge was to be used to build a new aluminum tower off the coast of the French Polynesian island for the judges to use during the surfing competition in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. According to Seaspiracy, the empty barge destroyed all the coral heads in its path.
The local community is saddened and outraged.
Local surfer @matahidrollet details the concern in an Instagram reel:
In response to concerns, Paris 2024 issued a release detailing construction plans for a new, lighter tower. However, locals are calling for construction to halt altogether and for the organization to use the wooden tower usually used for WSL competition.
Local organizations have started a petition to “renounce the new Arbitration Tower of the 2024 Olympics, the drilling of the platform, the underwater pipelines, and propose to use the usual wooden tower for the surfing competition of the 2024 Olympics.”
Users on Instagram are calling for pro-surfers to boycott the Olympic games if the construction continues.
