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Paris Olympics in Tahiti: Surfing by day, luxury floating by night

Paris Olympics in Tahiti: Surfing by day, luxury floating by night

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By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific Correspondent, French Pacific Editorial

This weekend, the Olympic surfing competition kicked off in French Polynesia and it is the only event where athletes stay in a floating hotel.

The accommodation is provided by the luxury ship French Polynesia Aranui-5 for the duration of the surfing competition, which will be held from July 27 to 30 at the iconic location of Teahupo’o.

What is now the only floating hotel and Olympic village of the Paris Olympics usually carries passengers and cargo to remote islands in the Pacific Ocean.

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A floating Olympic village was chosen because there is no suitable facility in this part of Tahiti close enough to the competition venue.

The 28 international participants and their delegations have arrived and boarded the Aranui5.

On board they are treated to French and Polynesian dishes and local Polynesian dancing takes place every evening.

An athletes’ room aboard the floating Olympic village Aranui 5. Image: COJOP/RNZ

The favourites in the competition also come from home: among the women, Vahine Fierro, who made history in May by winning the Tahiti leg of the World Surfing League competition, has been surfing the Teahupo’o wave since she was 15.

Kauli Vast, among the men, also grew up at this world-famous location.

The Aranui 5 floating Olympic village crew welcomes the surfing competitors on board. Image: COJOP/RNZ

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz