MELBOURNE, April 16 (Reuters) – Brisbane 2032 organizers are not considering alternatives to central Queensland’s Fitzroy River for the rowing events, an official said on Thursday, despite concerns about a venue known for strong tides and crocodiles.
The Rockhampton Waterway, a natural crocodile habitat about 600km north of Brisbane, received mixed reactions when it was proposed as an Olympic venue a year ago, mainly because of the currents.
Former Olympic rowing champion Drew Ginn said some athletes may be disadvantaged by the placement of their lanes on the river, and a council in Brisbane’s north has proposed its own site in Moreton Bay.
However, Queensland Olympic Minister Tim Mander said organizers were not looking elsewhere.
“We are committed to it, we are not looking at alternatives. The rowing will be in Rockhampton,” he told reporters in Brisbane. “There is no reason to look at alternatives if you have the confidence we have.”
About 500 rowers signed an open letter last month demanding a reconsideration of the Fitzroy River proposal. The river passed initial tests by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority last October.
An expert from World Rowing, the international rowing federation, is expected to assess the site in the coming weeks and decide by mid-year whether it will be made suitable for the Games.
World Rowing noted potential problems in a statement last year but said it would work with stakeholders to ensure the safety of athletes and the integrity of the competition.
Mander said there was nothing unusual about World Rowing’s upcoming review. “There’s nothing they’ve said that would worry us about the future,” he said.
