Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie’s sensational ‘will pay’ warning to IOC
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has given a sensational ultimatum to the International Olympic Committee if it refuses to allow rowing to held in Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River.
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The International Olympic Committee “will pay” if it refuses to allow rowing to held in Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River, Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie has sensationally warned.
His ultimatum to the IOC came amid ongoing questions about the government’s back-up plan if the world federation says rowing can’t be held in Rockhampton.
Mr Bleijie asked: “Is the IOC paying for it?”
“If they don’t want it in Rocky, then they pay for it, but they’re not.
“It’s the state government and the federal government.”
“We have pushed back a little bit on the IOC but we are very respectful because we wanted the Games to be about regional Queensland.”
Rockhampton has been the most controversial venue of the state government’s 2032 Delivery Plan and there is persistent speculation it will be axed for Penrith, Hinze Dam or Lake Wyaralong.
Mr Bleijie, speaking at the Queensland Media Club on Thursday, said the government remained “very committed” to hosting the event in Rockhampton.
“I respectfully said to the International Committee when they were over here, if it’s OK for Rocky kids and Australian kids to row on the mighty Fitzroy River it’s OK for Pierre from Paris,” he said.
“Look, the IOC took that well.
“My God … you go to Rocky this time of year in July, when the Olympic and Paralympic Games is going to be held the Fitzroy River is a mirror. It is the most beautiful thing.”
World Rowing has agreed to reduce the length of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games course from 2km to 1.5km.
Mr Bleijie said it was proof the IOC would “bend the rules” for some venues.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King acknowledged there were “challenges” with rowing in Rockhampton but said the government had allocated cash for the venue.
“We’ve provisioned money for Rockhampton, but that is conditional or dependent on the federated body for rowing determining that rowing can go forward there,” she said.
“The Deputy Premier is pretty determined that’s where rowing is going to be.”
She also poured water on previous comments by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese where he said: “Are we really going to do rowing in Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River when there are some pretty good facilities at Penrith?”
“The Prime Minister is a problem solver and I think he knows that there are some challenges with Rockhampton, but we’ll let the rowing federation go and have a look at those and make a decision,” Ms King said.
Originally published as Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie’s sensational ‘will pay’ warning to IOC
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