Aussies poke fun at decision to host Brisbane Olympics event on croc-infested river: ‘I’ll row faster’

Aussies have made fun of a decision to host a sporting event on a croc-infested river for the Brisbane Olympics.

Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River has been endorsed for rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games after passing an independent technical assessment.

The waterway is home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles, prompting a wave of ridicule from Aussies, including triple Olympic rowing gold medallist Drew Ginn.

‘Personally, I’m not fearful of the Australian animals but I’ve never had a crocodile near me,’ he said.

‘I’m sure I’d row faster, I’m sure all the athletes would row faster. That’s on the list of concerns, I don’t think it’s the highest priority in concerns but it was certainly cited very early on.’

Aussies joined in on the pile-on, with one quipping they expected ‘many records to be broken’. 

Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris compared crocodile concerns with surfing in the ocean, where sharks are also present

Another suggested the sporting rulebook might need a new category.

‘In athletics, we have “wind assisted” run times. Are we about to have ‘crocodile assisted’ swim/row times?’

Others focused on the entertainment potential.

‘I think the added crocodile element would improve the sport enormously from a spectator perspective,’ one commenter said.

Another reached for Australia’s most talked-about performance at the Paris Olympics, writing: ‘They had to top Raygun somehow.’

Others took a darker approach to joking about rowers sharing the river with crocs. 

‘Some lucky competitors may get to compete in both the Olympics and the Paralympics,’ one wrote.

‘All rowing events should involve 500 crocodiles being released,’ another added. 

Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River, home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles, has been approved as a Brisbane 2032 Olympic venue

Australian rowing great Drew Ginn, pictured left, joked athletes would row faster with crocodiles sharing the water at the Olympics

Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams told Daily Mail rowing had been held on the river for over 100 years without a single crocodile attack. 

‘Rowing has been held on the river for over a century and never had any attacks,’ he said.

‘People blow it up a bit more than what it needs to be

‘There’s risk associated with everything you do, whether you swim in the ocean and there’s sharks or whether you jump in the car and drive around the streets.

‘You manage that and people are familiar with being croc-wise. Those areas are monitored by Queensland Parks and Wildlife.

‘So I don’t see that as a massive negative.’

‘There’s actually a regatta on [right now], the State School Field championships this weekend. So the kids are on the water now.’

Behind the jokes, debate continues over whether the Fitzroy is the right place to stage Olympic rowing. 

World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide endorsed the course after reviewing technical findings about conditions for competition during the Games

The independent assessment examined course performance under different conditions, including weather patterns, water levels and flood risk. It did not assess crocodiles.

The river already hosts rowing competitions and training camps, with contingency plans in place at events when crocodiles are spotted.

World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide endorsed the course after reviewing the technical work.

‘Based on the extensive analysis undertaken, we now know that the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the period of the Games, consistent with the requirements of Olympic and Paralympic Rowing,’ World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland said.

For Ginn, the possibility of uneven racing conditions and the distance from Brisbane remain major concerns.

‘Even just the idea of being at a venue where you could have your race decided by half a second and it could show it’s different in lanes by two or three seconds,’ he said.

‘And, while I’m thinking Rockhampton is a great town, I just don’t think it’s right for the Olympic Games to spread the venues out in such a way that jeopardises the experience for the athletes and spectators.’

Ginn was among 542 rowers who signed an open letter asking the Queensland government to locate the rowing venue in southeast Queensland.

Existing rowing events on the Fitzroy River have contingency plans in place for when crocodiles are spotted nearby

British, New Zealand and German rowing federations also reportedly raised concerns about fairness, safety and sustainability at a recent World Rowing congress.

Critics have questioned whether flooding and silt would require repeated dredging and repairs.

But deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie said the analysis showed there would be ‘no widening, no dredging needed’, with sufficient space for eight lanes and start and finish areas along a 2.7km section.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli celebrated the approval in parliament on Thursday.

‘The Fitzroy has passed with flying colours,’ he said. 

‘It’s official, signed, sealed and delivered.’

Detailed planning, design and construction will now proceed.