Crocodile-Infested Fitzroy River Approved as 2032 Olympic Rowing, Canoeing Venue

Imagine preparing for an Olympic water race and knowing that crocodiles live in the same river.

That will be the unusual reality awaiting athletes heading to Rockhampton for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Fitzroy River in central Queensland, a known habitat for saltwater crocodiles, has received the green light to host rowing, para-rowing, canoe sprint and para-canoe events after an independent technical assessment.

The decision ends months of debate over whether the river could provide safe and fair conditions for elite competition.

Crocodiles were not the only concern

The crocodiles naturally attracted the biggest headlines, but they were not the main technical issue examined by assessors.

The river has strong currents and is vulnerable to flooding. Questions had also been raised about water levels, wind, tidal influences, water quality and whether athletes could compete under sufficiently consistent conditions.

An independent assessment by marine engineering specialists examined the riverbed, water flows, water levels, weather conditions and flood risks.

It also included on-water testing and modelling.

World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide subsequently endorsed the course as capable of providing safe, fair and consistent conditions.

So, what happens to the crocodiles?

The approval does not mean the river suddenly became crocodile-free. It remains a natural waterway where saltwater crocodiles occur.

That is why the venue has attracted international attention, including concerns from rowing representatives from Britain, New Zealand and Germany about safety, fairness and the sustainability of using the location.

However, the technical assessment concluded that the river could meet the requirements for Olympic competition.

The planned course will cover a 2.7-kilometre section, enough to accommodate the standard 2,000-metre rowing race and the necessary start and finish areas.

A strange Olympic picture

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The decision creates one of the more unusual images of the Brisbane Games.

Athletes will train to maintain perfect concentration, officials will monitor competition conditions, spectators will watch from the riverbanks, and somewhere beneath the surface will be one of Australia’s most feared reptiles.

For organisers, the technical assessment provides the basis for proceeding.

For athletes and their national federations, the remaining concern will be how the safety arrangements work in practice when thousands of competitors, officials and spectators converge on the river.

The Fitzroy has passed its technical test. The next challenge is turning that approval into an Olympic venue that is safe, fair and properly prepared, ValidViewNetwork reports.