Tahiti welcomed the 2024 Olympic surfing event on Friday (July 26) with blazing sunshine, songs and Polynesian culture honouring the sport’s ancient roots, a world away from the rain of the Games’ opening ceremony in Paris.
Ceremonial artefacts and some dignitaries arrived in outrigger canoes and were carried up the black sand beach, where athletes paraded into a large tent.
Host nation France naturally received the loudest cheers, especially for local Teahupo’o surfers Vahine Fierro and Kauli Vaast who will be among the favourites when competition kicks of, likely on Saturday.
Athletes and officials danced with local performers wearing grass skirts and flower garlands before big screen TVs crossed live to Paris and a rain-soaked parade of nations.
Tahiti, 16,000km from Paris, is hosting the surfing because it has one of the world’s best waves and beaches in France are mostly flat at this time of the year.
