The file is one of the most delicate in Brisbane 2032 At this time, will Fitzroy be the venue for the rowing and sprint canoe-kayak events, as desired by the organizing committee and local authorities? The Queensland state government remains firm in its position, while the evaluation from World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation is still pending.
The inflexible government
The Queensland government is determined not to deviate from the course presented last year and to keep its promise. The rowing event will take place in Rockhampton, in accordance with the 2032 delivery plan. “,” Minister Tim Mander reiterated in February on ABC. I can state categorically that the rowing events will not take place in Sydney. The rowing events will not take place in Moreton Bay, nor will they take place on the Gold Coast; they will take place in Rockhampton. " he emphasized before Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister Jarrod Bleijie shares this view. We continue to work closely with our partners, including the federal government, to create a facility that the community can be proud of. " he said in recent days.
In October, the independent authority responsible for the infrastructure and coordination of the Games gave its approval. Queensland Senator Matt Canavan welcomed this, as reported by ABC: The flow rate is well below the thresholds set for a competition. We had to carry out these tests to be sure, and we are now certain that this river is perfectly calm. "An answer to questions about the race conditions. However, the issue is still far from being resolved."
Are the athletes' interests secondary?
Australian rower Drew Ginn, a three-time Olympic champion, did not hide his skepticism about this option when speaking to 7 News that holds the top spot. " It's disappointing that the Olympic Movement, Rowing Australia, and the Queensland government aren't aligned on what's important for athletes. It's sad that the government won't back down and admit they're wrong., he explains. I find it embarrassing. Imagine a 100-meter race where, in lane six, one runner is running forward, while in lane one, another is running backward, and that's considered fair for the athletes. Rivers flow, rivers overflow, we know the course here poses real problems in that regard—it's acceptable for a local regatta… but it's not acceptable for the Olympic Games. »
Representatives from World Rowing and the ICF visited Rockhampton in February. According to Deputy Prime Minister Jarrod Bleijie, they were impressed. Francs Jeux contacted World Rowing, which issued the following statement: World Rowing will continue to work collaboratively with Brisbane 2032, the Independent Infrastructure and Games Coordination Authority, the Queensland Government, and the IOC to ensure athletes have a suitable playing field. Fairness and integrity of competition are the top priority for both World Rowing and the ICF, and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to conduct further technical assessments of the Fitzroy River and reach a final decision in due course. “No new developments, but the FI’s caution suggests that the matter is complex and requires further investigation. World Rowing declined to provide more details about a future site visit or the timing of its decision.”
