Hosting Olympic Events Remotely Will Impact 2024 Surfers
The end of the Tokyo 2020 Games has thankfully provided me back some free time to catch-up on much-needed Olympic-related viewing and reading. These last few days, this has meant watching HBO's "100 Foot Wave" documentary series released last month.
Poster art for HBO's "100 Foot Wave" Recounting Garrett McNamara's big wave search in Nazaré, Portugal from a few years ago, it's an engaging saga of athletes looking for more. McNamara and his cadre of big wave surfers tackle notorious conditions to reach an ultimate challenge. Will the team find its 'white whale' of a 100-foot wave to surf? I've got one episode left to watch in the six-part series tonight, but...spoiler...he eventually does.
Of course, these athletes aren't your Olympic surfers. Tokyo 2020 (as will Paris 2024) featured shortboard paddle surfing (athletes paddling out to waves along the beachhead), while big wave surfers are towed-in on jet skis to the larger waves further out. Think of it as extreme skiing vs your alpine skiing Winter Olympics events.
In any case, watching these surfers tackle their passion - religiously, enthusiastically, competitively, despite injury and other setbacks - just emphasizes the appropriate inclusion of surfing as an Olympic sport. These are professional athletes in a global sport, performing year-round to hone their craft and receive recognition.
Of course, these athletes aren't your Olympic surfers. Tokyo 2020 (as will Paris 2024) featured shortboard paddle surfing (athletes paddling out to waves along the beachhead), while big wave surfers are towed-in on jet skis to the larger waves further out. Think of it as extreme skiing vs your alpine skiing Winter Olympics events.
In any case, watching these surfers tackle their passion - religiously, enthusiastically, competitively, despite injury and other setbacks - just emphasizes the appropriate inclusion of surfing as an Olympic sport. These are professional athletes in a global sport, performing year-round to hone their craft and receive recognition.
Tokyo 2020's competition has to be seen as a success. The waves cooperated, thanks to an offshore wind system, and a diverse field - five nations won the six medals - put on a good show for television. (IMHO, just missing a dash of sunshine, though...) And, the athletes proved passionate.
Italo Ferreira was a happy men's winner at Tokyo 2020 But that passion and excitement from surfers about being Olympians might be a little dampened by the next Games' competition. In Paris 2024, the surfing events will be held in Tahiti, more than 9,000 miles away. (!) Tahiti, part of the French Republic via French Polynesia, beat out mainland French options such as Biarritz and Lacanau.
While Tahiti offers a perfect made-for-television surfing backdrop, and it's waves at Teahupo'O can be thrilling, I can't help but think the remoteness might detract from the athletes' sense of Olympism. How will those athletes and their families even feel a part of the Games so far from the Olympic Village, the other athletes, the other sports? Or, will it, for the athletes, feel like just another large tournament stop around the globe? Perhaps the usual rigid and limited qualification for the Games - and some Olympic bunting and procedure on site! - will help tilt the experience toward an Olympic feel.
While Tahiti offers a perfect made-for-television surfing backdrop, and it's waves at Teahupo'O can be thrilling, I can't help but think the remoteness might detract from the athletes' sense of Olympism. How will those athletes and their families even feel a part of the Games so far from the Olympic Village, the other athletes, the other sports? Or, will it, for the athletes, feel like just another large tournament stop around the globe? Perhaps the usual rigid and limited qualification for the Games - and some Olympic bunting and procedure on site! - will help tilt the experience toward an Olympic feel.
Teahupo'O will be a spectacular-looking location for Paris 2024's surfing (Men's Journal/Shutterstock)
Tahiti will represent the furthest distance an event is held from a host city, ever. The previous record was equestrian having been held in Stockholm during Melbourne 1956 due to quarantine concerns. Most recently, Tokyo 2020 held its marathon and race walking events almost 700 miles away in Sapporo. And typically, many team sports' games (particularly soccer) are held in multiple sites for scheduling convenience. Paris 2024 will also host sailing away from the Games' landlocked center, in Marseilles, almost 500 miles away.
Understood, the Games are massive, and finding venues for 30+ sports in one limited geographic location is tough. But, mostly, these decisions, have come after the Games were awarded to a specific host. I would have thought that the host city's ability to host all the planned events within a somewhat reasonable geography be a condition of hosting...otherwise, should it not be called Japan 2020 and France 2024, for example?
Regardless, to Tahiti will go Paris 2024's surfing Olympians. Luckily, Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 should offer prime local venues for the sport..and more opportunities for surfers to be better, fully, integrated as Olympians.
Understood, the Games are massive, and finding venues for 30+ sports in one limited geographic location is tough. But, mostly, these decisions, have come after the Games were awarded to a specific host. I would have thought that the host city's ability to host all the planned events within a somewhat reasonable geography be a condition of hosting...otherwise, should it not be called Japan 2020 and France 2024, for example?
Regardless, to Tahiti will go Paris 2024's surfing Olympians. Luckily, Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 should offer prime local venues for the sport..and more opportunities for surfers to be better, fully, integrated as Olympians.
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