Olympic rowing venue faces fairness concerns despite 500 crocodiles

More than 600 teenage rowers will compete this weekend on Australia's crocodile-inhabited Fitzroy River, an Olympic venue-in-waiting where concerns over fair racing conditions have overshadowed the presence of around 500 saltwater crocodiles.

The same stretch of water has been approved to host rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.

The annual school rowing regatta in Rockhampton, Queensland, usually attracts little media attention, but this year it has drawn international interest after World Rowing and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the Fitzroy River as a suitable venue following a technical assessment.

"We've never had any media wanting to attend before," Anthea O'Loughlin, head of Rowing Queensland, told the BBC.

The river is home to around 500 saltwater crocodiles, some reaching up to four metres (13ft) in length, though Queensland government records show no recorded attacks on humans by the reptiles over the past 40 years.

While crocodile sightings are not uncommon, the main concern among rowing officials is whether the venue can provide fair racing conditions.

The Fitzroy is a tidal river with natural bends and currents, prompting concerns that it may be unsuitable for elite competition.

Drew Ginn, a three-time Olympic rowing gold medallist for Australia, told the BBC he was concerned about potential flooding as well as "fairness and integrity" at the venue.

"Personally, I'm not fearful of the Australian animals, but I've never had a crocodile near me," he said.

"I'm sure I'd row faster; I'm sure all the athletes would row faster. That's on the list of concerns; I don't think it's the highest priority in concerns, but it was certainly cited very early on."

Fairness over location

Concerns have also been raised about the venue's location, around 600km (373 miles) from Brisbane.

Moritz Petri, president of the German rowing federation, said athletes had questioned the sustainability of holding the event so far from the host city.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli dismissed what he called the "so-called impediments", accusing interstate and overseas figures of opposing the regional venue.

"It is a group of interstate and overseas elites who are trying to bully their way because they don't want to go to regional Queensland and that's not right," Crisafulli said.

Rowing officials contacted by the BBC before yesterday's (17 September) decision declined to comment directly on his remarks.

Petri and Simon Wickham, chief executive of Rowing New Zealand, said their concerns were not about choosing a regional or urban location but about ensuring fair competition.

Petri said the issue was about what was best for athletes who would train for four years for the Olympics while "dreaming night [after] night of becoming an Olympic champion".

Ginn said: "If elite means having some expertise in the sport over 20-odd years, I'm proud of that."

Fitzroy gets Olympic approval

World Rowing and the IOC approved the Fitzroy River yesterday (17 September), following a technical assessment by an engineering firm and the Games' infrastructure authority.

The assessment examined the riverbed, competition course, river flows, water levels and likely weather conditions during the Games.

"Based on the extensive analysis undertaken, we now know that the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the period of the Games," World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland said.

Thomas Konietzko, president of Paddle Worldwide, the governing body for canoe sprint, said there was now "confidence" in the river for canoe sprint athletes.

Crisafulli welcomed the decision, telling Queensland Parliament: "The Fitzroy has passed with flying colours. It's official. Signed, sealed and delivered."

The Queensland government had previously commissioned a 2025 report that found the location unsuitable and recommended using the rowing course built in Sydney for the 2000 Olympics.

The Fitzroy still needs a final assessment covering its design, value for money and long-term community legacy.

So what about the crocodiles?

Crocodiles are not mentioned in the latest update from the IOC and World Rowing or in the media release on the technical assessment. The full assessment has not yet been made public.

The safety management plan for this weekend's school regatta, however, mentions crocodiles 28 times.

"The Fitzroy River is within recognised crocodile country," it says.

"Event planning must therefore assume that a crocodile sighting is possible. No natural waterway in crocodile country can be guaranteed to be crocodile-free."

If a crocodile is spotted during the regatta, racing will be suspended, and competitors will return to the bank. The official signal is: "Crocodile, crocodile, crocodile."

Wickham said the primary concern was ensuring the "fairest possible course" for rowers.

Hancock Prospecting, owned by Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, rejected what it called "fake media" concerns about flooding and crocodile risks.

"The people of Rocky for many years have sent their own children to train in this river, and for competitions, without a single crocodile incident," a spokesperson said.

Flooding remains another concern. O'Loughlin said a Rowing Queensland schools event planned for the Fitzroy in August 2024 had to be moved after the course was washed away.

Brisbane 2032's chief executive has said organisers are preparing contingency plans "as we would for any venue".

For the school-age rowers competing this weekend, however, the wider debate is largely irrelevant.

"For our students, the Fitzroy is first and foremost their home water," said Phillip Moulds, headmaster of The Rockhampton Grammar School.

"The Fitzroy has also been the starting point for many, some of whom have gone on to compete at the highest levels of the sport nationally and internationally."