Rockhampton leaders set on Fitzroy River hosting 2032 Olympic rowing

With new speculation over whether Rockhampton will host 2032 Olympic rowing, local leaders have united.

Cathedral School competing at the 2015 Queensland Schools Championship Regatta on the Fitzroy River Rowing course in Rockhampton. The Fitzroy River has been chosen to host the 2032 Brisbane Olympics rowing events. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin

Rockhampton political and sporting leaders have rallied behind plans to hold the 2032 Brisbane Olympic rowing events on the Fitzroy River after comments by the outgoing International Olympic Committee boss raised new uncertainty.

It was announced in March 2025 that Rockhampton would be hosting the rowing events on the Fitzroy River.

But outgoing IOC boss Thomas Bach has cast fresh doubts on the Olympic event being held in the Beef Capital, saying he couldn’t guarantee the rowing events would be held in Rockhampton after all.

The news has led Rockhampton Olympic rowing stakeholders to rally around the original plan.

The Fitzroy River has played host to numerous rowing events including the 2015 Queensland Schools Championship Regatta. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin

“The Premier, Deputy Premier and Member for Rockhampton, Donna Kirkland, have all be crystal clear about this – the 2032 Olympic Rowing is coming to Rockhampton,” Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said.

“This is something that I strongly support and have welcomed. It will be a game changer for our region and provide a lasting legacy.”

In July, a delegation from World Rowing is set to make their initial assessment of the Fitzroy River during a visit to the region.

Cr Williams said this was normal and shouldn’t raise alarms.

“What is happening now is part of the broader process to confirm the different venues,” he said.

The Fitzroy River is renowned in the region as a sporting venue.

“Rockhampton was a change in venue from the southeast, so we now need to work through the specifics of running the competition in our region and on the Fitzroy River.”

Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club president Sarah Black concurred with Cr Williams, and said the upcoming visit is part of the Olympic process.

“We know we have a fantastic rowing venue in the Fitzroy River and that’s been endorsed by anyone who’s rowed on it,” she said.

“We’re looking forward to the visit and sharing our local knowledge of the river and large competitions.”

Former Australian Olympian and Rockhampton-raised Duncan Armstrong has also backed Rockhampton hosting the rowing events and joked that Rockhampton could host Beef Week at the same time as the Olympics, noting rowers and paddlers “are some of the biggest eaters” at the Games.

Rockhampton-raised former Olympian Duncan Armstrong believes Rockhampton will greatly benefit from holding the Olympics.

Mr Armstrong believes hosting the rowing events will inspire the community and especially the young in Rockhampton and Central Queensland to get fit and be healthy.

Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland has been also very adamant in her belief the 2032 Olympic rowing will be held in Rockhampton.

“The Olympic rowing will be held in Rockhampton,” she said.

The Fitzroy is known to home to saltwater crocodiles. Picture by Cheryl Chopping

“No ifs, buts or maybes, it’s definitely coming… we have a fantastic region.”

News of the announcement back in March raised eyebrows around the country and the world as the Fitzroy is home to the snappy creatures.

However, Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President Andrew Liveris said at the time he was not worried.

“There are sharks in the ocean and we still do surfing… this is can do, not can’t do, please flip the mindset here,” he said.

“We’re going to get at this and find the can-do answers.”

Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland, Premier David Crisafulli, Mirani MP Glen Kelly and Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams with Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club members and Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club president Sarah Black (far right) on the banks of the Fitzroy River.

Apart from crocodiles, other concerns have related to high levels of boat destroying water hyacinth and a current, all of which could pose problems for the Fitzroy passing World Rowing standards.

However, Cr Williams has said that the Fitzroy River and Rockhampton have a history of holding rowing events.

“What we know is that we have a world class venue in the Fitzroy River which is backed up by local, national and international level rowers,” he said.

“We have shown that we can do this and we will do it again for the Olympics.”

It is an attitude that has been shared by Mr Armstrong.

“When we won the 2032 Olympic Games we promised to make it regional and Central Queensland is going to be the benefit of that promise,” he said.