- Decision on aluminium surfing judges' tower by end November

A decision regarding the construction of an aluminium tower for surfing judges at the 2024 Olympics in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, will be made by the end of the month, according to Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet. The proposed tower has faced opposition from residents who believe it will harm the coral reef. Teahupo’o has traditionally used a small wooden tower for judges during surfing events, which is taken down after each competition. An online petition against the aluminium tower and the service channel through the reef has garnered nearly 150,000 signatures. Estanguet stated that the issue of the judges’ tower was revisited to address the concerns of the local population, and alternative options are being explored, including the use of the existing wooden tower if it meets safety standards. Engineers, local authorities, and the Polynesian government are currently working on potential solutions, including the possibility of reusing the foundations of the previous tower. Estanguet plans to visit Tahiti in the coming weeks, and a decision is expected by the end of November. The Mata Ara Ia Teahupo’o collective, which initiated the online petition, stated that they have only engaged in discussions with local authorities after their appeals to Paris 2024 were disregarded. They have had constructive conversations with the President of the country and the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia.