The crocodile habitat of Queensland, Australia, has been approved as a host site for several 2032 Olympic rowing events.
The Fitzroy River in Queensland was officially selected on Thursday by Olympic officials as the site, after passing an independent assessment of its suitability.
In a statement Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said on Thursday that the IOC’s review of the river had been completed.
“Rowing and regatta will be in Rockhampton for the 2032 Games and provide a lasting legacy for Central Queensland,” he said.
World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide has also endorsed Rockhampton’s flat course. Its selection confirms it as the site for the 2032 Games’ canoeing, single sculling, canoe and canoe racing events.
“The Gaming Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) will now proceed with the detailed planning, design and construction of the Games,” a government press release said.
She continued: “The evaluation included extensive on-water investigations and modeling to understand how the course would perform under a range of conditions, weather patterns, water levels and flood risks at the time of the Games and throughout the period leading up to the Games.”
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The Fitzroy River Flatwater Facility “is already a training and competition venue for flatwater sports, supporting state school championships, local regattas and national team training camps,” he said. GIICA evaluation.
Croatia’s Martin Sinkovic (TOP L) and Croatian Valent Sinkovic cross the finish line in first place as they compete for the gold medal in the men’s doubles final rowing competition at the Vayre-sur-Marne Marine Center in Vayre-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 2, 2024.
Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images
The river is home to about 500 crocodiles, according to media reports, and news of its approval as an Olympic venue has attracted an unusual amount of attention, including the annual Queensland Rowing Regatta, where students from across the state will gather this weekend to compete.
Jean-Christophe Rolland, President of the World Rowing Federation, confirmed that fair and equal conditions for athletes were the motivation behind the request to evaluate the course for the 2032 Olympic Games.
“Based on the extensive analysis undertaken, we now know that the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the Games, consistent with Olympic and Paralympic rowing requirements,” Rowland said.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Brisbane 2032, GIICA, Paddle Worldwide, the International Olympic Committee and IPC in the next stages of venue planning.”
Tomas Konietzko, President, Paddle Worldwide, He said that the evaluation was characterized by a very collaborative and transparent approach among all stakeholders.
“The quality and depth of technical work completed has greatly improved our understanding of the field of play and provided confidence to us and our athletes that the course can provide fair competition for Canoe Sprint athletes,” he said.
Brisbane 2032 Chairman, Andrew Liveris, The presence of crocodiles was reported last year.
“There are sharks in the ocean, and we are still surfing,” he said at the time, according to the BBC. “It is something that can be done, not something that cannot be done – please change the mentality here.”
Speaking about the venue being approved on Thursday, he said: “The validation provides additional certainty as we move into the next phase of venue planning and games delivery, ensuring all future design and commissioning work continues to be solely focused on Rockhampton.”
Saltwater crocodiles live in the north-eastern region of Queensland and can be found in rivers, lakes, swamps, water holes, mangroves, estuaries, beaches, coral reefs and oceans and can reach a length of up to six metres.
In 2021, Rockhampton Regional Council Be warned of the presence of a three-metre-long crocodile along the river banks.
The Council said the Department of the Environment regularly receives sighting reports along the Fitzroy River, and is urging people to be “in the direction of the intersection” when near the water.
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