Rowing Australia says they will be left ‘in limbo’ with Brisbane Games venue set to be rejected

Rowing Australia has conceded the sport will be left ‘in limbo’ with the proposed Brisbane Games venue set to fail its technical assessment, and leave them with a baffling alternate option.

Rowing Australia’s CEO says the sport will remain in limbo if Rockhampton is named as a 2032 Olympic venue given the Fitzroy River could be rejected as soon as world bosses complete a technical feasibility assessment.

Highly placed sources have revealed the state government will likely announce Rockhampton as the host city for rowing events when unveiling its long-awaited venues review in Brisbane on Tuesday.

But given the river, a known crocodile habitat, will have some form of “stream”, or current - a direct contravention of World Rowing rules governing the selection of venues for international events - 2032 Olympic events could be staged in freezing cold Penrith in the middle of winter.

Rowing Australia says the sport will remain in limbo. Picture: Rowing Australia

RA chief executive Sarah Cook revealed neither World Rowing nor International Olympic Committee (IOC) bosses had been consulted over the plan to hold events on the Fitzroy River, a venue that has been chosen ahead of the sport’s preferred options at Wyaralong Dam, west of Beaudesert, and Hinze Dam in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

“First and foremost that we have not been advised of the outcomes or the findings of the 100 day review, or the determinations of the government yet (but) we have obviously seen the stories indicating that the Queensland Government will be recommending Rockhampton,” Cook said.

“We have concerns that the Fitzroy (River) will not meet the technical specifications of World Rowing.

“A key criteria is: ‘on a standard international course, there should be no stream’ and

I guess the concern is they’re announcing a venue which has had no technical assessment or feasibility assessment and we know that World Rowing and the IOC have not been consulted as part of that decision.

AI image of 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games venues: Rowing at the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton.

“We would certainly welcome a technical assessment and a feasibility assessment … so that we know whether it is a viable venue or not.

“So we do, I guess, remain in limbo even if the government was to announce (Rockhampton) because we just don’t know if it can meet the technical specifications.”

Australian rowers used the Fitzroy River as a training base ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and while flooding in the region knocked out key infrastructure last year, RA intends to use the Central Queensland city as a training base again ahead of the LA 2028 Games, as well as Brisbane 2032.

“But an Olympic and Paralympic regatta venue is a very different proposition to a training facility,” Cook said.

Fitzroy River has been used for training sessions.

“It comes down to fairness. The reason that World Rowing specifies no stream is because it’s about fairness, and if you have stream, then you have unfair current across all of the lanes and we want a fair venue and fair racing for our athletes, and I think they deserve that.”

Basing athletes at the foot of the Blue Mountains in winter also had its problems despite the outstanding technical aspects of the Sydney International Regatta Centre, host of the 2000 Games rowing and flatwater paddling events.

“It is a great venue that 30 years after being built is still providing legacy,” Cook said.

“But being 1000km away from the centre of the Games and being in a colder climate does pose some concerns.”

Flatwater events have traditionally been held at the same Olympic venue but neither Cook, nor sprint canoe and kayak sources had heard whether paddle events were also slated to be held in Rockhampton.

Originally published as Rowing Australia says they will be left ‘in limbo’ with Brisbane Games venue set to be rejected