2032 Olympic rowing venue in Australia sparks fairness debate, not croc fears
Queensland's Fitzroy River, home to roughly 500 saltwater crocodiles, has been approved as the rowing and canoe sprint venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Rowing officials' main concerns center on the river's bends and currents affecting fair competition, not the reptiles.
Queensland's Fitzroy River near Rockhampton was approved on Thursday by World Rowing and the International Olympic Committee as the rowing and canoe sprint venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics. The decision followed a technical assessment by an engineering firm and the Games' infrastructure authority, which examined the riverbed, competition course, water flows and likely weather conditions.
The river is home to around 500 saltwater crocodiles that can grow up to four metres long, yet government records spanning more than 40 years show no recorded crocodile attacks on humans there. The annual schools rowing regatta, which draws more than 600 teenage rowers, attracted unusual media attention this year because of the Olympic decision.
Fairness, not crocodiles, tops the concerns
Rowing figures, including British Rowing chief executive Tom Solesbury, raised concerns mainly about the tidal river's natural bends and currents, which they argue could make it unsuitable for elite competition. Triple Olympic rowing gold medallist Drew Ginn cited potential flooding and questions of fairness and integrity, while German Rowing Federation president Moritz Petri questioned the venue's sustainability given its distance of roughly 600km from Brisbane.
Queensland premier David Crisafulli described the objections as an attempt by interstate and overseas elites to bully regional Queensland into abandoning the venue, a characterisation rowing officials rejected, insisting their concerns were solely about fair racing conditions for athletes.
The state government's decision overlooked its own 2025 report, which had found Rockhampton unsuitable and recommended instead using the rowing course built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The Fitzroy River still needs to pass a final assessment covering design, value for money and long-term community benefit, though that step is considered unlikely to derail the project since the state government controls the outcome.
