Dance and drums kick off Tahiti’s Olympic surfing celebration

Olympic surfing holds its own ceremony to open the competition, which is held in Tahiti

Tahiti welcomed the 2024 Olympic surfing event on Friday with blazing sunshine, songs and Polynesian culture honoring the sport’s ancient roots, a world away from the rain of the Games’ opening ceremony in Paris.

In a beachside park, which is just 25 miles away from the surf spot of Teahupo’o surfers poured sandy sand from their own beaches into a vessel for communal use and gathered the varying shades and textures to signify solidarity and reverence for ocean.

Ceremonial artifacts as well as dignitaries arrived on outrigger canoes. They then were taken through on the black beach which was where the athletes paraded to an enormous tent.

Hosting nation France naturally got the biggest cheers, particularly for Teahupo’o surfers from the local area Vahine Fierro, and Kauli Vaast who will be among the top contenders for the competition that starts on Saturday.

Officials and athletes danced with local performers in floral garlands and grass skirts prior to big screen televisions linked directly to Paris and a wet display of countries.

In Tahiti there was sunshine and smiles while the surfers celebrated the special conditions of their Olympic event