Fitzroy River Approved for 2032 Olympic Rowing Despite Fairness Concerns
The short version
- World Rowing and the IOC approved the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton for 2032 Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoe sprint.
- The river holds saltwater crocodiles, but decades of state records show no attacks on humans.
- Critics' main concerns were fairness due to tides, bends and currents, plus distance from Brisbane.
- A 2025 state-commissioned report had found the site unsuitable and favored the Sydney 2000 course.
World Rowing and the IOC have endorsed Queensland's crocodile-inhabited Fitzroy River as the 2032 Brisbane Games rowing and canoe sprint venue.
World Rowing and the International Olympic Committee have approved Queensland's Fitzroy River in Rockhampton as the venue for rowing and canoe sprint at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics. The decision followed a technical assessment by an engineering firm and the Games infrastructure authority covering the riverbed, competition course, flows, water levels and expected weather during the Games.
Saltwater crocodiles live in the roughly 480km river, but state records going back more than four decades show no attacks on humans, and a 2020 Queensland government survey estimated about 0.2 crocodiles per kilometre. The reptiles received little attention at last month's World Rowing congress in Amsterdam, where the dominant issue was fairness.
Critics pointed to the tidal river's natural bends and currents, which many in the rowing community consider unsuitable for elite racing. Drew Ginn, a three-time Australian Olympic rowing gold medalist, raised concerns about flooding and fairness and integrity. Moritz Petri, president of the German rowing federation, said athletes also questioned holding the event some 600km from Brisbane. Queensland premier David Crisafulli dismissed the objections as interstate and overseas elites trying to bully their way because they did not want to visit regional Queensland.
World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland said the analysis showed the river can provide fair competition conditions during the Games, while Paddle Worldwide president Thomas Konietzko expressed confidence for canoe sprint athletes. Crisafulli told parliament the river had passed with flying colours.
The approval came despite a 2025 state-commissioned report that found the location unsuitable and recommended using the Sydney course built for the 2000 Olympics. The Fitzroy plan still faces a final review of its design, value for money and community legacy, though the decision rests with the state government.
