Athletes competing at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games could face an unusual danger in Queensland: hungry crocodiles in a river set to host major water events before a worldwide audience.
Concerns have been raised over saltwater crocodiles after a river in Australia believed to contain more than 500 of the reptiles was approved as a venue for the 2032 Olympics.
Organisers have cleared the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton, Queensland, to stage Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing competitions, saying the venue passed testing with “flying colours”.
The river has a recent history of crocodile incidents. In 2023, local authorities captured a huge 4.5-metre saltwater crocodile whose presence forced the cancellation of a local regatta. Last year, a four-metre crocodile seized and killed a 16-month-old Rottweiler called Nigel.
“I’m sure I’d row faster,” three-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Drew Ginn told BBC Sport.
“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.”
“Things like relocating crocodiles out of the river, you sort of go, ‘Does international rowing want to have the athletes in jeopardy of that sort of stuff?’”
A river home to more than 500 crocodiles has been approved for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Fitzroy River near Rockhampton, pictured, was the site of a crocodile attack that killed a dog last year
A total of 542 rowers signed a letter urging the state government to build a dedicated facility in south-east Queensland, citing concerns about the crocodile population and the river’s strong current. The Fitzroy River is also around six or seven hours from Brisbane, where the main 2032 Games events will take place.
The river is roughly 300 miles long, meaning it hosts an average of 1.67 crocodiles per mile. Near Rockhampton, the waters are around 50 to 100 metres wide.
Rockhampton mayor Tony Williams has warned athletes to be ‘croc-wise’.
‘We’re not shying away from it, there are crocodiles in the system,’ he told AAP.
‘There’s crocodile management that can be put in place.
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‘I’ve swum in the river… being aware that they inhabit the rivers, you’ve just got to be croc-wise.’
The problem was raised at a recent International Olympic Committee meeting.
But organisers have not mentioned rehoming the snappy crocs and are instead adopting a positive attitude.
A total of 542 athletes signed a letter to the state government requesting a change of venue
Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris said last year: ‘There are sharks in the ocean and we’re still surfing. It’s a can do, not a can’t do – please change the mindset here.’
Meanwhile, Queensland’s premier, David Crisafulli, said: ‘The Fitzroy has passed with flying colours. It’s official, signed, sealed and delivered.’
A report into the river, ordered by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority, did not consider the crocodiles but merely how the river would perform under various weather conditions.
The report did stress that ‘contingency plans are in place at events for when crocodiles are spotted and Olympic officials have previously been assured of rower safety’.
Local crocodile farmer John Lever told AAP that the crocs were not a major worry.
‘There’s very few crocodiles in the freshwater, downstream side of the river (near the course) – I think we’ve had four removed in 40 years,’ he said.
‘They’re not of concern. The schools are out there every day with their rowing teams.’
‘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.
Thomas Konietzko, president of Paddle Worldwide, which deals with canoeing, said: ‘The quality and depth of the technical work undertaken has significantly improved our understanding of the field of play and provides confidence to us and our athletes that the course can deliver fair competition for Canoe Sprint athletes.’
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