French Polynesia president backs Olympics surf venue rethink

Surfers are due to catch the first waves of the Paris Games in nine months in Tahiti, some 15,000 kilometers from the French capital, but a plan to build a giant tower in a legendary surf spot is sparking resistance.

Several hundred people recently joined a peaceful protest at the site near the village of Teahupoo –- one of the world's most famous surfing areas and the designated Olympic venue.Moetai Brotherson, President of French Polynesia -- which comprises more than 100 islands including Tahiti -- told AFP on Tuesday that he shared the environmental concerns, and suggested a different spot for the competition, without the need for a tower.

Brotherson, who supports independence from France, took up his post in the wake of elections this year won by pro-independence forces who want to negotiate a referendum with Paris on the archipelago's status.

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