ISA Takes (Digital) Stand Against Construction Of Olympic Tower In Tahiti
“…the French Polynesian Government decided to go forward with their plan…”
About a week ago, the Associated Press announced that Olympic organizers would be resuming construction on the widely reviled aluminum Teahupo’o tower, after a brief pause.
In congruence with this announcement, Cliff Kapono and scientists from the Mega Lab completed a study of Teahupo’o’s reef — determining that work from the barge path and tower construction could potentially impact 2,500 square meters of the reef and cause damage worth $1.3 million USD to the living habitat.
Today, the International Surfing Association (ISA) — a governing body which is recognized by but separate from the International Olympic Committee — announced their opposition to the continued construction.
Their statement was as follows:
“The ISA will not support the construction of the new judges’ tower at Teahupo’o. On December 9th, the ISA sent a proposal to the French Polynesian Government and Paris 2024 organizers to run the Olympic Surfing competition in Teahupoo, without building a new aluminum tower on the reef.
The ISA proposal included judging the competition remotely, with live images shot from land, water and drones. Subsequently the French Polynesian Government decided to go forward with a plan to build a new aluminum tower on the reef.
The determination that the existing wooden judging tower, used up until August 2023, was not legally compliant, was taken by the Government of French Polynesia. We are ready to work together with all the stakeholders in the best interests of the sport, the environment and the local community.“
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