As the majority of the Olympics take place in Paris over the next five weeks, the surfing competition is being held in Tahiti. The surfers are spending the next two weeks on board of a cruise ship.
They will not have to sleep on cardboard beds like the rest of the athletes back in France!
Believe it or not, France actually has some pretty decent waves on the southwestern coast. Quiksilver hosts a World Surfing League stop in Seignosse, Capbreton and Hossegor. However, the annual event takes place at the end of September because the swells are weak in the summer.
It is simply not possible for the Olympics to hold the surfing competition in France at this time of year with any success so it was outsourced to Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia. 10,000 miles separate the Island of Love and the City of Love!
The competition will be held on the iconic Tahitian wave, Teahupo’o, despite major controversy related to environmental impact. A large judging tower constructed in the water might create irreversible damage to the coral reefs and could slowly destroy the shape of the famous swell over time.
As of right now, the harm is considered to be fairly minimal.
Putting all of the dissension aside, the location is absolutely gorgeous!
Competition will begin with Round 1 on July 27th and the Finals on the 30th. Scenes are going to be remarkable. They already are!
Obviously, athletes in Tahiti cannot stay at the Olympic Village in Paris. While all of the sprinters, swimmers, gymnast, etc. sleep on literal cardboard beds back in France, the surfers are staying on a cruise ship.
Surfers are staying on Aranui 5 for the Olympics!
The dual-purpose passenger/freighter ship designed to offer all of comforts of a cruise liner, while operating as a supply ship. She can hold approximately 230 passengers and will anchor near Teahupo’o for the entirety of the surfing competition.
It is the first-ever floating Olympic Village!
The athletes get to wake up every morning with a breathtaking view!
Equipped with King beds, their rooms are much nicer than the ones in the true host city. Here is a tour:
Olympic surfers already have a pretty sweet gig. To get to catch one of the most famous waves in the world while sleeping onboard a comfortable cruise ship in Tahiti is awesome. Winning a medal while there is as cool as it gets. That, of course, is the goal!