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16h ago

IOC Approves Fitzroy River for 2032 Olympic Rowing

The decision clears the way for detailed planning after an independent hydrology and flood assessment won endorsement from World Rowing, Paddle Worldwide, the Games authority and the IOC.

Rockhampton's Fitzroy River has been confirmed as the venue for rowing at the 2032 Olympics. (AP PHOTO)
A salt water crocodile similar to the one which snatched and killed Brett Mann, 22, in Australia's Northern Territory as he stopped at the Finniss river 50 miles south west of the state capital Darwin on Sunday to wash off mud. The reptile later turned to his two friends, sending them scrambling up a tree in the river, where they spent 22 hours until police found them. *11/10/04: A 60-year-old woman has jumped onto the back of a 14-foot crocodile, tackling it to free a man who has been grabbed as he slept in his tent in a remote beach campsite in northern Queensland, Australia. The crocodile let the man go and turned on the woman, pulling her toward the water before a third person shot it dead. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The International Olympic Committee formally approved the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton on Thursday, September 17, 2026, to host rowing and canoe sprint at the Brisbane 2032 Games.
  • The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority commissioned WaterProof to produce a standalone technical assessment that modelled river flows, wind, water levels and flood risk and concluded the course can meet competition standards.
  • World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide reviewed the WaterProof findings and endorsed the site as capable of providing fair competition during the Games, prompting organisers to move into detailed design and delivery planning.
  • The assessment did not evaluate crocodile hazards: the Fitzroy is a protected saltwater crocodile habitat with roughly 500 animals, and officials say event procedures will rely on sighting reports and contingency measures rather than removing that risk.
  • Athletes, national federations and coaches remain concerned about river currents, depth and flood-driven lane inequality and about Rockhampton’s limited accommodation and transport, which leaves costly infrastructure and legacy choices still unresolved.