For those with gold medal aspirations for 2024 it's going to come down to the ability to go steep and deep at Teahupo'o, one of the heaviest left-hand reef breaks on the planet.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has given their approval for Teahupo'o, Tahiti, to be the venue for the Olympic surfing competition in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Last month, Paris 2024, the organizing committee behind the Paris Olympic Games, asserted that Teahupo'o was going to be the site for Olympic surfing in 2024, and the IOC Executive Board still needed to officially approve the motion.
IOC President Thomas Bach reportedly had concerns about the surfing competition taking place so far away from the host city.
Four other French surf towns were in the mix, including Hossegor and Biarritz, but the lure of the South Pacific proved too much to resist.
Referred to as "The End Of The Road," for a reason, Teahupo'o is over 15,000km from Paris. It is remote and isolated, which has required some special consideration by the IOC.
Surfers would compete during the first week of the Games, then have the opportunity to enjoy the second week in the Olympic Village in Paris, as well as walk in the Closing Ceremony.
Both men and women will be competing at Teahupo'o.
In terms of logistics, it's been reported that the current plan is to bring in temporary modular housing to form a remote "Athletes' Village" for the surfers in Tahiti.
Those facilities would then be dismantled after the event ends and used in other parts of Tahiti as social housing.
Organizers will also be working closely with stakeholders and authorities to ensure that the local community is well looked after and promoted accordingly.
CT surfers talking CT stops. A competitor's guide to every break on Tour.
"For surfing, Teahupo'o is a sacred place, rich in history and tradition and offering a truly authentic surfing experience, whilst paying homage to the culture and heritage of the sport," said Fernando Aguerre, President of the International Surfing Association in a statement to the press.
"Tahiti as the Olympic venue is testimony to Paris 2024's spirit of creativity and innovation. Surfing is a sport for the new era of the Games and this approach by Paris 2024 demonstrates how our values are aligned."
These similar sentiments were echoed last month when it appeared that the vision would in fact become a reality.
"With Tahiti, Paris 2024 has opted for a well-preserved "reef break" site in an exceptional natural setting. With its specific topography as a sensitive coastal area with limited capacity, the competition will adapt to the site and not the other way around," reads a statement released by Paris 2024 last month.
"This site, which fits perfectly with the vision of Paris 2024, will strengthen the spectacular nature of the project, showing the world some extraordinary images not only of the discipline itself, but of France as well," continued the statement.
Famously Heavy Wave Now An Olympic Venue
WSL
For those with gold medal aspirations for 2024 it's going to come down to the ability to go steep and deep at Teahupo'o, one of the heaviest left-hand reef breaks on the planet.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has given their approval for Teahupo'o, Tahiti, to be the venue for the Olympic surfing competition in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Last month, Paris 2024, the organizing committee behind the Paris Olympic Games, asserted that Teahupo'o was going to be the site for Olympic surfing in 2024, and the IOC Executive Board still needed to officially approve the motion.
IOC President Thomas Bach reportedly had concerns about the surfing competition taking place so far away from the host city.
Four other French surf towns were in the mix, including Hossegor and Biarritz, but the lure of the South Pacific proved too much to resist.
Referred to as "The End Of The Road," for a reason, Teahupo'o is over 15,000km from Paris. It is remote and isolated, which has required some special consideration by the IOC.
Surfers would compete during the first week of the Games, then have the opportunity to enjoy the second week in the Olympic Village in Paris, as well as walk in the Closing Ceremony.
Both men and women will be competing at Teahupo'o.
In terms of logistics, it's been reported that the current plan is to bring in temporary modular housing to form a remote "Athletes' Village" for the surfers in Tahiti.
Those facilities would then be dismantled after the event ends and used in other parts of Tahiti as social housing.
Organizers will also be working closely with stakeholders and authorities to ensure that the local community is well looked after and promoted accordingly.
"For surfing, Teahupo'o is a sacred place, rich in history and tradition and offering a truly authentic surfing experience, whilst paying homage to the culture and heritage of the sport," said Fernando Aguerre, President of the International Surfing Association in a statement to the press.
"Tahiti as the Olympic venue is testimony to Paris 2024's spirit of creativity and innovation. Surfing is a sport for the new era of the Games and this approach by Paris 2024 demonstrates how our values are aligned."
These similar sentiments were echoed last month when it appeared that the vision would in fact become a reality.
"With Tahiti, Paris 2024 has opted for a well-preserved "reef break" site in an exceptional natural setting. With its specific topography as a sensitive coastal area with limited capacity, the competition will adapt to the site and not the other way around," reads a statement released by Paris 2024 last month.
"This site, which fits perfectly with the vision of Paris 2024, will strengthen the spectacular nature of the project, showing the world some extraordinary images not only of the discipline itself, but of France as well," continued the statement.
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