Source : ABC NEWS
The Queensland government has emphatically declared a crocodile-inhabited river prone to flooding will host Olympic rowing and canoeing events in 2032.
It comes amid reports the two Brisbane 2032 Olympic sports will be moved away from central Queensland’s Fitzroy River in Rockhampton to the state’s south-east.
“Rowing will be in Rockhampton, as per the 2032 Delivery Plan,” Olympics Minister Tim Mander told the ABC on Tuesday.
The 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games rowing and canoeing events will be held in Rockhampton. (AAP via Photosport: Iain McGregor)
The river was a controversial choice of venue when it was announced last year, with Premier David Crisafulli declaring Brisbane 2032 would be “a Queensland Games for all of Queensland”.
However, World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation (ICF) are yet to sign off on the venue due to the waterway not meeting the technical specifications for international competition.
As Queensland Parliament resumes, Mr Mander and member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said they would provide an update during sittings on Tuesday.
The Fitzroy River rowing course has been the subject of independent and international testing. (Supplied: Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club)
Ms Kirkland said speculation that Olympic officials were looking to shift rowing and canoeing events away from the city was “nonsense”.
“Rockhampton will proudly host Olympic and Paralympic rowing on the Fitzroy River as outlined in the 2032 Delivery Plan,” Ms Kirkland said.
“We are getting on with the job of delivering a remarkable event that showcases our region to the world and leaves a lasting legacy for growth.“
David Crisafulli has reassured the public that Rockhampton will host Olympic rowing. (Supplied: Rockhampton Grammar School)
Games for the regions
In October the Rockhampton venue passed initial testing by the state’s Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GICCA).
But in a signed joint statement supplied to the ABC, World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland and ICF president Thomas Konietzko said the groups were not ready to give the go-ahead for the Fitzroy and were committed to ensuring “fair and safe competition”.
Premier David Crisafulli has previously said funding would be pumped into regional areas to help support legacy venues for the 2032 Olympics.
“It had been recommended to move the [rowing] event to Sydney, but I believe there is a legacy play and we must grab that,” he said.
Members of Australian men’s rowing four team train during a training session at the Tokyo Olympics. (AP: Lee Jin-man)
The site has been used as a staging camp for major events for the Australian rowing team, including before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In February, World Rowing and ICF officials toured Rockhampton with members of the 2032 Organising Committee while the river was in flood.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said rowing officials walked away impressed with the region’s potential.
He reiterated the state government would not change its position on hosting events in Rockhampton and other regional venues.
