Uhhhh . . OK: For 2032 Olympics, One Possible Rowing Site Near Brisbane Is Saltwater Crocodile Habitat

[hatrack]

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On the eve of Crusafulli’s much anticipated announcement, the national broadcaster reported the chief executive of Rowing Australia, Sarah Cook, as saying her organisation was concerned the Fitzroy would not meet World Rowing technical specifications. On Monday the ABC published Cook’s comments that a “key criteria” of a standard international course was that “there should be no stream”. “The issue for us at this point is that we know that World Rowing and the [International Olympic Committee] have not yet been consulted in relation to that venue,” Cook said.

“So, we simply don’t have the technical assessment to know whether it is a viable option or not.” Cook was more relaxed about crocs, however, noting Rockhampton’s active rowing community and use as an Olympic training venue, while acknowledging the deadly reptiles could prove “quite shocking” for international visitors. The Australian rowing team trained in the Rockhampton waterway before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and plans to do so again before the Los Angeles Games.

But it is not just foreigners surprised by the fact Olympic athletes will be asked to compete on water that even the local rowing club president acknowledges is natural crocodile habitat.

Just hours before the plan was officially unveiled, Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was asked on radio what he thought about the then unofficial reports of Rockhampton as an Olympic rowing venue – and if he himself would swim the Fitzroy. “I’m not sure how sensible a proposition that is,” Albanese told Brisbane’s B105. “My understanding is it was sort of listed eight out of eight as options, and if there were 15 options, it would have been 15.”

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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/25/lovely-gentle-dinosaurs-brisbane-2032-olympic-rowing-may-be-held-in-saltwater-crocodile-habitat