The Paris 2024 Olympics concluded with environmental issues taking centre stage. Surfing grabbed headlines before the games even began, largely due to the controversy surrounding the judges' tower overlooking the action. The surfing events, held at the legendary Teahupo'o in Tahiti, were about 15,800 kilometres (9,800 miles) from Paris.
Known for its powerful yet beautiful, glassy, hollow waves that break over a shallow reef, Teahupo'o was the perfect stage for the world’s best surfers. However, the construction of an ecologically-intrusive judging tower sparked debate and fuelled emotionally-charged backlash on social media. Critics argued the structure disrupted the coastline's natural beauty and posed environmental risks. Despite organisers' assurances of minimal impact and plans for removal post-Games, the debate continues. Could the judging have taken place from a boat? Could it have been done on land using live drone footage? The aluminium tower, designed and built in Tahiti, is collapsible and will be removed after the event. This structure represents a 20-year investment by the Tahitian government for future surfing events at Teahupo’o, which at the very least ensures it's not a one-off, linear production piece.
Photographer Tim McKenna had a more positive view of the tower’s impact, noting,
“The tower project was reduced to the bare minimum in order to have the least impact possible on the environment… the area where the tower is built has very little coral. It’s a flat shelf with small spread out coral heads and a few bigger rocks covered with coral.”
Yet, before the tower was even completed, a barge damaged the reef in December last year, dragging across the coral at high tide. This incident ignited social media outrage when footage was shared, prompting a wider public discussion on environmental impacts and throwing the spotlight on those lobbying for its inclusion.
Beyond surfing, one of the most talked-about sustainable initiatives in Paris was the use of cardboard beds in the Olympic Village. Designed by Japanese brand Airweave, these beds are fully recyclable and made in France. While some athletes found them too stiff, it raised an interesting point about balancing sustainability with comfort and potential impact on athlete performance. Haven't heard from any artistic gymnasts who've woken up with a crooked neck and struggled with their balance beam flips... yet.
"We will produce the cardboard bed frames in France, after the games, recycle them in France, and donate the mattress and pillows for second-life in France as well." President and CEO of airweave Motokuni Takaoka.
Paris organisers focused on circular principles throughout the games, emphasising recycling and reducing materials to make a statement of their intentions. Many smaller pavilions were designed as temporary structures with low-impact materials and some pretty funky designs. The Games claimed all venues were powered by 100% renewable energy, sourced from wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. Sustainable transportation options were also a priority, making venues accessible by public transport, with additional and improved routes added to deal with the influx of visitors. Organisers claimed every single event could be accessed by bicycle. Erm, even at Teahupo'o?
Hosting open-water swimming and triathlon events in the Seine River drew significant attention. Organisers invested heavily in cleaning up the Seine, aiming to make it swimmable for the first time in over a century. Unfortunately, heavy rain at the start of the events affected water quality, leading to delays. High levels of bacteria posed a risk to athletes who, if unlucky, could've left the water with a less-than-memorable Paris souvenir in the form of E. Coli.
The surfing events saw gold medals claimed by Caroline Marks (USA) and Kauli Vaast (Tahiti/France). Vaast, who grew up navigating Teahupo’o’s waves, is also known for his ambassador role with Coral Gardeners in restoring coral reefs. He even celebrated his gold medal with a cheeky surf in the Seine, despite concerns about water quality it was too good a PR stunt not to grab. Closer to home, the latest edition of Tracks Magazine features an incredible photo of Vaast, snapped from below the water by Ben Thouard. This edition, co-edited with Surfers for Climate, is full of ocean-themed pieces by surf and eco-legends.
Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), there is much to plan for from a surfing perspective. Possible locations could include beaches at Venice or Zuma, or even Kelly Slater’s wave pool which would avoid the risk of poor conditions at the coast. Could Hawaii be a venue? These questions will be key as LA28 aims to improve upon the lessons learned from Tokyo and Paris, ensuring the focus remains on surfing without negatively impacting the natural environment. LA28 organisers have already boldly stated they won't build any permanent new venues, instead, they're promising to use existing infrastructure or creating temporary structures. Another big statement is that LA28 will aim to be a "no-car Games", which will be some feat considering the notorious traffic in LA.
It's clear there's a need for thorough planning and environmental consideration for all future sporting events in the Olympics, but in particular surfing, and due to the obvious links to the ocean and conservation, it's kinda expected from us. Environmental scrutiny will only get tighter, so lets hope that surfing at the Olympics are on right side of history at LA28.
Main Image by Tim McKenna @timmckenna
This Surfers for Climate blog post is supported by Polestar. Learn more about our collaboration with Polestar here.
