Cap Coast town “slated” as a swell site for hosting coastal rowing
Central Queensland could be hosting another Olympic event in 2032 with Emu Park favoured to stage the emerging sport of coastal rowing should it be included in the Games’ program.
Regional News
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Central Queensland has a great chance of hosting another Olympic event in 2032 with Emu Park favoured as the ideal site to stage the emerging sport of coastal rowing, should it be included in the Games’ program.
While Rockhampton has already been awarded the 2032 rowing and sprint canoeing events, Keppel MP Nigel Hutton said Emu Park has been “slated” as the perfect venue for coastal rowing.
“Coastal rowing is being trialled as an official event for the first time during the 2028 Olympic Games in LA,” Mr Hutton said.
“Should that trial be successful, we should see the event held on the Capricorn Coast.
“Emu Park has the perfect weather conditions to suit the sport with the right wave height, wind condition and of course our fabulous climate.
“The opportunity to spread the rowing events across our region during the 2032 games is the perfect chance for us to showcase the attributes we have on offer to the world.”
Livingstone Shire Council Mayor Adam Belot said he was aware of the Emu Park push and council strongly supported the proposal.
“It’s a fantastic venue and why not?” he said.
“It’s been flagged by some people that it would be really suitable for that type of rowing event given the conditions we have here fairly consistently.”
The coastline of Emu Park with its wonderful backdrop of islands, including Great Keppel Island, also fits Premier David Crisafulli’s vision of showcasing the state by holding Olympic events at spectacular natural venues.
Cr Belot said if Emu Park was selected that success could assist the surf lifesaving club with obtaining funding to upgrade the section of failing revetment wall at Main Beach.
He said council was supporting the club with its other infrastructure upgrades by allocating $100,000 towards detailed design to establish accurate costings for those works.
World Rowing reports beach sprint rowing, a format of the coastal rowing discipline, was being included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program alongside classic rowing.
The LA Games website says beach sprint rowing starts and finishes with a sprint across the sand with competitors using specialised coastal rowing boats to navigate through waves and surf, showcasing their agility and speed.
“Coastal rowing, beach sprints are set to play a major role in the future of rowing,” said World Rowing’s president Jean-Christophe Rolland.
“With Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon and an exciting new event series in development, we are ensuring that the discipline reaches new heights, both in terms of competition and global reach.”
Rockhampton Rowing Club President Sarah Black said there had been positive discussion around Emu Park as a suitable coastal rowing venue during the schools’ state championships last year.
“There was a lot of talk around how good the water would be there,” she said.
“The location doesn’t have the huge swells that you see down in southeast Queensland.
“It definitely would put Emu Park in a good position so I think there’s certainly an opportunity there.”
Rowing Queensland was approached for comment but did not respond to coastal rowing questions.
The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee has also been approached for comment.
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Originally published as Cap Coast town “slated” as a swell site for hosting coastal rowing
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