Latest News

Olympics-Surfing-Olympic internet users score with 'remarkable' drifting athlete's village

Olympic surfers based in Tahiti will lose out on the phenomenon of the Games' opening event on Friday, however might have exceeded their Parisbased peers with their accommodation in a freightercumcruise ship working as a drifting athletes' town. With limited lodging options in the little villages dotted around Tahiti's southern coast, Paris 2024 decided to house most internet users in the uniquelooking 126metre (413foot) Aranui 5, which is anchored in the lagoon about 10 km (6.2 miles) from the venue of Teahupo'o.

It's my very first time on a cruise liner, so yeah, it's enjoyable, stated New Zealand web surfer Billy Stairmand.

It's incredible. We got great spaces and it's really comfortable. Got our own little space, we have actually got a gym, got whatever you require so yeah, it's a good vibe on the boat for sure, Stairmand informed .

On Thursday, Stairmand was bantering with South African internet users Jordy Smith and Matt McGillivray onboard as they saw their Olympic rugby sevens groups on do fight in Paris.

The ship generally accommodates 230 passengers and charges around $5,700 per person for a 12-day, 11-night cruise in a basic cabin to the Marquesas Islands, taking freight together with paying passengers. If you desire the governmental suite, that will set you back about $10,000 per individual.

On board are 28 athletes from 19 delegations, each in a single room with a double bed - nobody got the presidential suite. In a post on Instagram, Peru's Sol Aguirre showcased her space complete with flat screen TV, flower garlands and a view to the jungle-clad mountains over the lagoon from her terrace.

Tenders take the surfers between the contest website and the Aranui, which suggests the great path, and bring in fresh food and other supplies from a nearby village.

It's a half an hour drive every morning but I think that's just what comes with the entire procedure of all of it, said Stairmand. It's cool. I like Tahiti, it's extremely effective place so it's awesome to wake up here and type of check the shoreline every morning and feel revitalized and energised. Surfers stated that while missing out on the buzz of the Paris town and the opening event and the absence of spectators was a shame, the unique location, ideal waves and chilled regional vibes offseted it.

Obviously it would have been cool to get some viewers. But at the very same time we're here for a job you know, we're here to get medals and at times it most likely could be distracting, stated Stairmand.

We remain in our little bubble and we're doing whatever we can to get those medals.

(source: Reuters)