Native opposition has centred on drilling into Teahupo’o’s coral reef and fears that ciguatera, a illness that toxins fish and renders them inedible, would flourish as has been the case with earlier development within the fragile marine environments.
Matahi Drollet, pictured browsing a Teahupo’o monster on the age of 16, led protests towards the deliberate development of a brand new judging tower.Credit score: Ted Grambeau
In a 2500-word rationalization of its resolution and research, Olympic organisers claimed that “the reinforcement of present foundations with out drilling (i.e. by anchoring 288 new metal bars at a depth of 1.5m) has been studied, however it could have a better impression on the coral which has established itself through the years on the concrete pads than constructing new foundations in an space with few corals.
“The brand new tower, extra sober and shriveled and weight, put in on new perennial foundations, is the answer to make sure the sturdiness of the tower over time and to ensure the holding of future sporting occasions in Teahupo’o.
“This tower, in addition to the brand new foundations, might obtain ten-year approval, important for insurance coverage functions.”