A river shared with hundreds of saltwater crocodiles has officially been cleared to host rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.
The Fitzroy River, which runs through the city of Rockhampton in Queensland, is estimated to house around 500 saltwater crocodiles—the largest reptiles on Earth, capable of growing beyond six meters (about 20 feet) in length. Locally, they’re nicknamed “Salties.”
An independent technical review, commissioned by the Games’ infrastructure authority, examined whether the river could deliver fair competition conditions given factors like weather, water levels, and flood risk during the Games. Notably, the crocodile population wasn’t part of that safety assessment. The river already serves as a training and competition site for flatwater sports, hosting school championships, regattas, and national team camps, with existing contingency plans for when crocodiles are spotted nearby.
Both World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide, the governing bodies for the sports, have endorsed the venue, saying the analysis gives them confidence the course can provide fair conditions for athletes. Brisbane 2032 organizing committee president Andrew Liveris has previously brushed off concerns, comparing the situation to ocean surfing despite the presence of sharks.
With the endorsement now official, planners say design and logistical work can move forward focused on the Rockhampton site. For the full story, check out the original report from the BBC.
Source: River home to 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue (feeds.bbci.co.uk). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: jemasmith, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).