物議のパリ五輪サーフィン審判用タワー、修正に組織委と地元「満足」

【タウポ（フランス領ポリネシア）ＡＦＰ＝時事】２０２４年パリ五輪大会組織委員会のトニー・エスタンゲ会長（４６）は、物議を醸していたサーフィン会場のアルミ製審判用タワーに満足感を示し、タワー建設への「懸念の声に耳を傾けてきた」上で修正を施したとＡＦＰの取材に応じた。（写真は２０２４年パリ五輪のサーフィン会場にある審判用のタワー）
　カヌーで３度の五輪金メダルに輝くエスタンゲ会長は、フランス領ポリネシアのタヒチ島チョープーの海に設置された審判用タワーに上り、五輪前のテスト大会であるワールドサーフリーグ（ＷＳＬ）の一戦を観戦した。
　その後、審判台からの眺めは「完璧」だと語り、海中への設置は必要なことだったと改めて強調。「全て順調に進んでいる」「われわれは示された懸念の声に耳を傾け、タワーがこの比類なき環境と融合し、この神秘的な場所を尊重するように少しばかり修正した」と述べた。
　抗議団体の代表も声を上げたかいがあったとして、「満足している。タワーは美しく、それ自体が自然に溶け込んでいる印象すら持っている」と語った。
　パリ五輪のサーフィンは７月２７日から３０日まで予定されており、波の状況による遅延があれば、８月５日まで延期される可能性がある。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/05/31-18:16）

Paris Olympics chief organiser Tony Estanguet told AFP he was delighted with the controversial aluminium judges' tower for the surfing event in Tahiti and said Games organisers had listened to the concerns regarding its construction by modifying it.
The 46-year-old three-time Olympic canoeing champion was speaking after climbing up the tower -- which is situated in the sea at Teahupo'o -- to view the World Surf League (WSL) event, a dress rehearsal for the Olympics.
The replacement of a wooden judges' tower, which no longer meets standards, with an aluminium structure had resulted in protests.
Work on the tower at Teahupo'o on the French Pacific island of Tahiti had been suspended in December after a barge used by workers damaged coral at the site.
Local surfers and environmentalists were outraged by the damage to the coral and an online petition against the project attracted more than 200,000 signatures.
However, those concerns are now completely buried, according to Annick Paofai, president of the Defence of Fenua 'aihere group.
Estanguet said the view afforded to the judges was perfect, adding it was necessary to have it situated in the sea for the competition.
Eveything is progressing well, he said.
Teahupo'o is a small corner of paradise, we are delighted to do it honour.
We listened to the concerns expressed and we modified the tower a little so that it could integrate into this exceptional environment and respect this magical place, he said.
For Paofai the protests had been worth it.
We are happy, the tower is beautiful, I even have the impression that it weds itself to nature, she told AFP.
It is excellent the associations protested because otherwise they (the construction workers) would have done just anything.
One has to be honest and say there was not much damage.
Tahiti, around 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles) from Paris, was selected to host the second Olympic surfing competition in history with the aim of including France's overseas territories in the Games.
The Olympic surfing event is scheduled for July 27 to 30, with a possible extension until August 5 if the swell is delayed.
Two Polynesian surfers, Kauli Vaast and Vahine Fierro, are among those representing France.