Paris 2024 Olympics Scales Back Tahiti Surf Tower Plans Amid Environmental Concerns

New tower design is smaller and lighter, addressing local fears for coral reefs and aquatic life.

Paris 2024 Olympic organizers have scaled back plans for a metal tower at the surfing venue in Tahiti, following local opposition due to environmental concerns.
The new tower will be smaller, lighter, hold fewer people and require shallower drilling than originally planned.
Locals had voiced fears for coral reefs, fish and other aquatic life when the tower's foundations were to be drilled into the seabed and mounted on concrete.
Over 160,000 signatures were collected in an online petition against the original tower plans.
The new tower will be the same size as the old wooden one, hold 25 to 30 people during the Olympics, and its weight will be reduced from 14 to 9 tons.