Paris Olympics: A 413-foot ‘floating’ athletes village in Tahiti has made up for surfers missing the Seine river opening ceremony | Paris Olympics 2024 News – Times of India

Surfers participating in the Olympic Games will not be present at the opening ceremony in Paris on Friday as they are based in Tahiti. However, they may have an advantage over their counterparts in the French capital when it comes to their unique accommodations.
Due to the scarcity of lodging options in the small villages along Tahiti’s southern coast, the organizers of Paris 2024 opted to provide housing for the majority of surfers aboard the Aranui 5, a distinctive 126-metre (413-foot) vessel that combines the features of a freighter and a cruise ship.The Aranui 5 is currently anchored in the lagoon, situated approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) away from the surfing venue at Teahupo’o. While the Tahitian surfers may miss out on the grandeur of the opening ceremony, their unconventional floating athletes’ village offers a unique experience that sets them apart from their peers in Paris.
“It’s my first time on a cruise ship, so yeah, it’s fun,” said New Zealand surfer Billy Stairmand, as quoted by the Associated Press.
“It’s awesome. We got nice rooms and it’s very comfortable. Got our own little space, we’ve got a gym, got everything you need so yeah, it’s a good vibe on the boat for sure,” Stairmand told Reuters.
On Thursday, Stairmand engaged in friendly conversation with South African surfers Jordy Smith and Matt McGillivray onboard as they watched their Olympic rugby sevens teams compete in Paris.
WATCH: The view athletes will have during opening ceremony

The vessel typically accommodates 230 passengers and charges approximately $5,700 per person for a 12-day, 11-night voyage in a standard cabin to the Marquesas Islands, transporting both cargo and paying guests. The presidential suite comes at a premium, costing around $10,000 per person.
The ship is currently hosting 28 athletes from 19 delegations, each occupying a single room with a double bed, with no one staying in the presidential suite. Peru’s Sol Aguirre shared a post on Instagram, showcasing her room featuring a flat screen TV, flower garlands, and a balcony offering a view of the jungle-covered mountains overlooking the lagoon.
Small boats ferry the surfers between the competition venue and the Aranui, which translates to “the great path,” and also bring in fresh provisions and other supplies from a nearby village.

“It’s a half an hour drive every morning but I guess that’s just what comes with the whole process of it all,” said Stairmand.
“It’s cool. I love Tahiti, it’s very powerful place, so it’s awesome to wake up here and kind of check the coastline every morning and feel refreshed and energised.”
Surfers said that while missing the buzz of the Paris village and the opening ceremony and the lack of spectators was a shame, the unique location, perfect waves and chilled local vibes made up for it.

“Obviously it would have been cool to get some spectators. But at the same time we’re here for a job you know, we’re here to get medals and at times it probably could be distracting,” said Stairmand.
“We’re in our little bubble and we’re doing everything we can to get those medals.”