The whole world knows that the 2024 Olympics are currently taking place in Paris. However, not everyone knows that the surfing portion of the games is actually taking place halfway around the world.
Surfing is one of the new sports added to the Olympic games, even though surfers have been advocating for it to be added since the 1920s. When I first learned that the Olympic organizers were planning to host the surfing competition in Tahiti instead of nearby Biarritz, I was quite shocked but stoked because it seemed like a great way to show off one of their overseas territories.
Plus, I’ve been to French Polynesia multiple times and it’s no doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth. It’s also one of the most remote. My wife thinks that despite the gorgeous destination, the 48 athletes competing got somewhat shortchanged because they don’t get to experience the Olympic Village and make friends with all the other athletes from around the world. She has a point.
According to the Olympics.com website, “The decision to stage the surfing competitions at Teahupo’o aligns with Paris 2024’s ambition to spread the Games across France. It offers an opportunity to engage French overseas territories and their communities in the Olympic Games—for the first time in history—while showcasing France’s rich and diverse heritage.”
I can understand that as well, and I don’t think the athletes are too upset, especially about their accommodations. It’s known that in the Olympic Village back in Paris, the athletes are sleeping on cardboard beds but in Tahiti, their village is on the Aranui 5, which is a mixed cargo and passenger ship. According to the AP, “about 45 minutes from the surfing venue, the Aranui 5 ship is able to accommodate about 230 passengers in over 100 cabins, with eight guest decks, a spa and gym, according to its website. It’s anchored just off shore and the surfers, coaches and others take small boats to get back and forth.”
Members of the media aren’t allowed on the ship but Japanese surfer Kanoa Igarashi shared a one-minute and twenty second video tour (embedded below) of the accommodations on TikTok. He said: “I think our athlete village in Tahiti is better than the actual one in Paris.” As you can see in the video, there’s a 24-hour dining hall, activity center with ping pong and foosball tables and a fully stocked Olympic gift store.
@kanoaigarashi i think our athlete village in tahiti is better than the actual one in paris 😅 #olympics #athletevillage #surf ♬ original sound – Kanoa Igarashi
French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson told The Associated Press that the athletes “have a wonderful location for the village, which is on a ship” and that “it’s unusual, but they seem to like it.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time or the farthest distance between venues at the Olympics. According to USA Today, “the farthest distance between venues at the Olympics since the 1956 Melbourne Games, when equestrian events were held in Stockholm, Sweden due to Australia’s equine quarantine at the time.”
Embedded below are some other videos of Aranui 5:
@deporcom¡Una maravilla! 🇵🇪🏄♀️ La surfista peruana Sol Aguirre compartió en sus redes sociales un pequeño tour de lo que es la Villa Olímpica ubicada en el crucero Aranui 5. . . 📹 @solaguirrev #solaguirre #paris2024 #jjoo #teamperu♬ sonido original – Depor
@nkhkanahau #cruise #boat #travel #aranui5 ♬ Bécane – A COLORS SHOW – Yamê
Fourteen years ago, one of our writer sailed on Aranui 3; you can read his story here.
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