French Polynesia's president has extended his sympathy to Tahitian locals pushing against the plans of Paris 2024 organisers to build a huge, aluminum, environmentally unfriendly judges' tower on the reef at which surfing will be contested at the Olympic Games.
Moetai Brotherson, who was elected in May, also said if he was in power when the location for the surfing competition was being decided that he would have advocated for a different spot to host the tournaments, which will be held at Teahupo'o.
Paris 2024 organisers are planning on replacing a wooden judges' tower with a $5 million aluminum structure that can host 30-40 people, which has sparked concerns for the marine ecosystem and the famous wave of the modest village.
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They are planning to have concrete foundations drilled into the reef and have air conditioning, high-speed internet and toilets installed, despite the fact the wooden judges' tower has been used for the World Surf League's Tahiti Pro for more than a decade.
Not only have locals marched in a peaceful protest, a petition pushing back on the plans has been signed by more than 100,000 people.
Brotherson told French publication L'Équipe that he had "a reaction of solidarity" to locals opposing the plans.
"I have no ill feelings towards the organisers of this march and this petition," Brotherson said.
"I understand their concerns. I myself am very attached to safeguarding our environmental and cultural heritage.
"But what I want is for us to remain at a level of rational discourse."
Brotherson also said he would have "done it completely differently".
"We would first have looked for all the ways to reuse what already exists and we might not have offered the same spot," he said.
"When we came to power, we said that there was a much more suitable site for the Olympics, the Taharuu Beach spot in Papara [situated about a 35-minute drive away].
"It is perhaps less spectacular and less mythical than Teahupo'o, but it's a beach break and it has existing infrastructure. There was no need to build anything
"In terms of organisation, it was much easier.
"And the wave seemed more suitable to us, it is more reasonable even in bad weather unlike the 'monster' Teahupo'o and it is more constant.
"We were told that it was impossible to change the site otherwise it would call into question the selection of Tahiti as organiser of the surfing events."
Professional Tahitian surfer Matahi Drollet has been vocal on Instagram about the controversy.
"The risks are simple and nasty: destruction of the reef and a very bad impact on the marine ecosystem that could stress the whole marine life and spread what is called the ciguatera," Drollet said in a video message.
"Ciguatera is a disease that poisons all the fish. Teahupo'o is a town of fishermen who eat their own fish and live off selling them.
"And last but not least, it could modify or change our wave and, in the worst-case scenario, make it disappear in a few years."
The surfing tournaments will be held between July 27 and 30, and Drollet says "the impact and the risk are too important" for such a short period of competition.
He also laid bare the environmental stance of Paris 2024.
"I went on your website and you guys are promoting your environmental commitments. Are you guys going to respect that?" Drollet said.
"Please, share this video so we can spread the message and stop this problem."
Paris 2024 has defended its plans.
"It is important to note that the need to build a new tower is because the existing tower does not comply with the safety standards in force under French Polynesian law," it said in a statement.
"As organisers of the event, we cannot compromise on the safety of the officials and judges who will be working on this tower.
"It was this safety issue that led us to work, collectively, with the government of French Polynesia on the planning for a new tower."
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