Surfing stars on the Olympic Torch Relay in French Polynesia
After having visited French Guiana and La Réunion, the Olympic Torch Relay continued its journey of overseas territories. As part of the Ocean Relay, Paris 2024 and the Olympic Torch Relay sponsors Coca-Cola, Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne are involving the largest number possible of French people from the four corners of the earth in celebrating the Games.
On Thursday 13th June, French Polynesia honoured its athletes and also celebrated its wealth of heritage. The collective relay organised by the Tahiti Surfing Federation and led by legendary Tahitian surfer Hira Teriinatoofa was one of the highlights of the stage. At the end of the day, Michel Bourez, another of the discipline’s prodigies, lit the celebration cauldron at the celebration venue in Papeete.
Illuminating the incredible treasures of French Polynesia
The Olympic Torch Relay continued its journey to the farthest reaches of the oceans and French Polynesia was the third overseas territory to welcome it. This visit was an opportunity for the Relay to discover the region’s unique cultural heritage and a variety of landscapes, oscillating between azure-blue lagoons, mysterious caves and craggy peaks. The day began with a nod to the surfing competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a visit to Teahupo’o, on the island of Tahiti. From there, the Olympic Torch was taken north-westwards to Teva I Uta, where it made its way among the hundreds of varieties of exotic flowers, plants and trees in the Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens, to Motu Ovini, a peaceful spot by the sea.
The adventure continued in Papara, which is famous for its beach of black sand that stretches for over ten kilometres, then in Taiarapu-Est, with its breathtaking landscapes and the turquoise waters of Paea. Further north, Papenoo combines beaches of black sand, an incredible surfing spot and wild valleys. A trip by pirogue took the Olympic Torch to the Pointe Vénus cape, before visiting the tomb of King Pomare V, the last king of Tahiti. The day finished in Papeete, lighting up the sports sites and infrastructures of the capital. The Olympic Torch’s journey through the city began in Pirae, at the Parc Aorai Tini Hau park, which is much appreciated by families. It then visited Place Vai’ete, situated on the seafront and the Jardins de Paofai gardens, a four-hectare piece of parkland also on the coast, and headed to the Willy Bambridge sports complex, inaugurated at the end of the 1960s, before completing the day at Place de To’ata.
More than 120 sportspeople, local celebrities and members of the general public crossed the archipelago with the Olympic Torch
To celebrate this exceptional day, 122 torchbearers took it in turns to carry the Olympic Torch, including several Polynesian sportspeople, among whom was Christian Ti-Paon, a world champion in para-cycling, as well as a V6 gold medallist and V12 silver medallist at the Para-va’a world championships in the sprint race in 2018. Antonin Mianne, head coach of French Polynesia’s horse-riding teams, and Michel Bourez, nicknamed “the Spartan”, were present in Papeete. Bourez, renowned as one of the world’s most powerful surfers, lit the celebration cauldron at Place de To’ata, an entertainment area which plays host to many sporting and cultural events.
Throughout the day, the spectators witnessed a wealth of torchbearers with inspiring profiles, such as Vaimalama Chaves, a former Miss Tahiti in 2018 and Miss France in 2019, who loves travelling, adventures and music. In Arue, in the northeast of Tahiti, Ra’ï Anania, a young junior high school pupil suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, carried the Olympic Torch. In spite of being wheelchair bound, he actively takes part in table tennis and swimming, acting as an inspirational role model for young people with disabilities.
Ravahere Silloux, another Miss Tahiti and a fervent ambassador for Tahitian heritage and culture, was present in Papeete. Rava Sachet, who works to promote Polynesian territory, carried the Olympic Torch near the celebration venue. She is a member of the association that organises the “Tahiti Color Fun Run”, an entertaining running event whose proceeds help to support local associations’ projects. She is also a senior executive in charge of waste management and preserving the environment for Tahiti’s public sector organisation, and works daily to protect biodiversity.
A symbolic collective relay
This new day of the Ocean Relay was marked by an inspiring image, with a collective relay by members of the Tahitian Surfing Federation. The Federation had arranged for fans of the discipline to meet at Fare Mahora Point from dawn. This peninsula located in the southeast of Tahiti, plays host just offshore to the famous surfing spot of Teahupo’o, one of the world’s most renowned.
Hira Teriinatoofa, who is a veritable legend in Tahiti and is today a coach of the French team, carried the Olympic Torch as captain of the collective relay. Alongside him, 23 other torchbearers took part in this memorable moment, including para-surfer Toareia Bordes, a regular competitor in bodyboard events on the archipelago, Amy Tauria, the local bodyboard champion, and Prisca Amaru, the founder of the first surfing school in Moorea.
The “prince and princess” of Teahupo’o, Kauli Vaast and Vahine Fierro, who will proudly represent France at the Paris 2024 Games, also enjoyed pride of place on Thursday 13th June, as did Michel Demont, ISA longboard world champion in 1994, or Karyl Maoni, a world champion in the va’a discipline, the traditional Tahitian pirogue. Philippe Klima, the eldest member of the Tahitian Surfing Federation and a kneeboard world champion in the “immortal” category in 2020, also honoured the event with his presence.
This collective relay highlighted the sporting spirit and unity of the local community in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
On Saturday 15th June, after eight days of sailing aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI trimaran, the long-awaited moment will finally arrive: the Olympic Torch Relay will set foot on Guadeloupe, with its lush natural surroundings and white sandy beaches. It will begin the day on this island, which holds a special place in the hearts of the French, at the ACTe memorial. It will then pass through Saint-François, Saint-Claude, Basse-Terre, Petit-Bourg and the Îles des Saintes archipelago, before returning to the main island to finish the day in Baie-Mahault.