Tahiti welcomed the Paris Olympics in low-key fashion on Tuesday, with the idyllic French Polynesian island letting its natural beauty and relaxed vibe set the tone for surfing’s second Games appearance.
Tahiti, some 16,000km from Paris, is hosting the surfing events for the Paris Olympics because it is home to one of the world’s greatest waves and because beaches in France are typically flat at this time of year.
Visitors arriving at the airport in the capital Papeete were greeted with Olympic posters, as well as songs and ukulele music, but elsewhere the Games’ presence was mostly muted.
Along the road towards the surfing venue of Teahupo’o, sandwiched between steep, forested mountains and a sparkling blue lagoon, Olympic billboards were comfortably outnumbered by stalls selling fresh fish or mangoes and other fruit.
“We’ve been up to Teahupo’o a few times to see the waves, to see the surfers, but obviously today it’s blocked off because of the big event,” said graphic designer Meti Vukovic, who was with his family enjoying a day at the beach some 10km from Teahupo’o.
“So unfortunately you can’t access it unless you have a pass.
“I don’t really know much about the event only that its one of the biggest events in Tahiti. I don’t think they’ve ever had the Olympics in French Polynesia before, at least the surfing edition.
“There is the yearly Tahiti Pro competition but its nothing like what’s happening here,” added the Australian, who has been living in Papeete for the past five years.
At “The End of the Road” directly in front of the surf break, the Olympics infrastructure is more obvious, with checkpoints, parking areas and large white tents set among the colourful houses.
Still, children play on the beach and cast fishing rods, while dogs and chickens have the run of the black sand pathways and gravel laneways.
Most surfers and their support teams have arrived, some staying in the same family-run accommodations they use for the annual Tahiti Pro.
Others are billeted on a hybrid cruise ship-cum-freighter called the Aranui 5, which usually runs between the islands of French Polynesia. It is set up in the lagoon a few kilometres from Teahupo’o as a floating village for Olympians.
Practice sessions are underway, with surfers getting allotted specific times to hone their skills when everyone else is kept out of the water, unlike the usual free-for-all at world tour events.
Much talk is about the surf forecast for the waiting period, which runs from July 27 until Aug. 5, with uncertainty around the conditions meaning competition could be wide open for those chasing Olympic glory.
“I don’t know, I guess Kelly Slater?” said Vukovic when asked about his favourites, not realising the 11-time world champion missed out on making the U.S. team.
“Vahine Fierro and Kauli Vaast,” his Tahitian partner called out from her beach towel, naming the two local Tahitians who will be top medal hopes for host nation France.
“They are amazing. We love them here.”
