Frenchman heading to crocodile country to see if Olympic rowing should move to Sydney

First it was the NRL premiership, now Penrith is in line to steal one of the showpiece events of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A Frenchman who won gold at the Sydney Olympics will decide whether rowing returns to Penrith or stays in North Queensland crocodile country for the 2032 Brisbane Games.

Australia’s most influential Olympic figure, John Coates, has told The Courier-Mail World Rowing president Jean Christoph Rolland will head to Rockhampton in under three months to inspect the proposed site for the Games regatta.

While the Queensland government has already announced the Fitzroy River as the Olympics venue for rowing and flatwater canoeing, speculation is mounting that it will not pass technical assessments to be led by Rolland.

Australia’s most influential Olympic figure, John Coates, has told The Courier-Mail World Rowing president Jean Christoph Rolland will head to Rockhampton in under three months to inspect the proposed site for the Games regatta. Picture: Getty Images

The Rockhampton decision is already under fire after a 218-page infrastructure report commissioned by the Queensland government recommended that rowing be hosted at the existing Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith.

The Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority said it did not recommend Rockhampton due to insufficient space on and off the water, the need for road upgrades and limited nearby accommodation options for officials and athletes.

GIICA noted the Penrith facility “can accommodate all Games requirements … (and) presents a feasible, fit-for-purpose alternative with a viable temporary accommodation solution, without the requirement for significant capital expenditure”.

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Acknowledging there was a priority to retain events in Queensland, GIICA said its recommendation “was not made lightly”, but it was “unable to be satisfied” an option existed in the state “offering value for money investment”.

As the Queensland Government awaits the Rolland visit, the NSW Government announced on Sunday $4 million of improvements to the International Regatta Centre and Penrith Whitewater Stadium.

Mr Coates, the former long-serving Australian Olympic Committee president who is now an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee and on the board of the 2032 Brisbane Organising Committee, said Rolland was the key to ending any conjecture.

Speculation is mounting that the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton will not pass technical assessments, bringing Sydney in to the picture. Picture: Aden Stokes

“The decision on Rockhampton will be taken by the international federation (World Rowing),” Mr Coates, also a former president of Rowing Australia, said. “Plans are in place for the president Jean Christoph to visit and have a look at what they’ve got to offer.

“I’m sure a lot of work has been done by the Queensland government and that’s what he will have to have a look at, and see if it measures up.

“I haven’t seen the plans for Rockhampton. I haven’t seen how they’re scoping it, but they’ll be matters taken into consideration by the international federation. They are the ones who know the technical requirements needed to provide the best conditions for international racing.

“The international federations are the experts in their respective sports. What they decide, the IOC will follow.”

Australia has been lampooned over the decision to make the Fitzroy River – a known home for crocodiles – an Olympic venue.

British Rowing, the governing body for the sport in the UK, posted on social media a meme of British rowers surrounded by crocs as they trained.

British rowing has poked fun at plans to have Olympic rowing events on the Fitzroy River - a well-known home for crocodiles - with this meme on Instagram.

The accompanying text read: “British Rowing has approached reptile experts and the Salford City Council to explore a new plan to give our future Olympians and Paralympians the best possible training advantage for the Games.

“Up to three breeding pairs of crocs could be relocated to Salford Quays as early as November.”

Sport NSW CEO Stuart Hodge took a more serious approach.

“We would be supportive of Sydney hosting the rowing events in 2032,” he said. “This is a rare opportunity to leverage the Games to renew and re-energise a key piece of Australia’s Olympic legacy.”

A spokesman for NSW Sport Minister Steve Kamper added: “The 2032 Brisbane Olympics … we have no doubt it will be one of the best Olympics yet. The NSW Government would consider any hosting request on its merits, but this is a decision for Queensland.”

Originally published as Frenchman heading to crocodile country to see if Olympic rowing should move to Sydney