World Rowing, Paddle Worldwide, Rowing Australia and Paddle Australia have backed an independent assessment finding Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River capable of hosting Olympic and Paralympic flatwater competition in 2032.
The joint statement said conditions at the proposed course were assessed as capable of supporting safe, fair and consistent racing. The endorsement applies to Para rowing and Para canoe, as well as rowing and canoe sprint.
It does not complete the venue approval process. The federations are seeking confirmation of technical details, service levels and facilities needed for Olympic and Paralympic competition as part of the next phase of venue planning.
Assessment Supports Field of Play
Marine engineering consultancy WaterProof examined conditions on the river, including wind, operational requirements, water levels and river flow, through on-water investigations and modelling. The work also considered weather patterns and flood risk for the period encompassing the Games and the time before them.
“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.
The available findings are limited to the proposed field of play. The underlying assessment, including its measurements and detailed modelling, has not been published.
Rowing Australia said neither it nor Rowing Queensland participated in the technical assessment. It described that work as one component of the full Project Validation Report and said it was waiting for the completed report.
Infrastructure Questions Remain
The Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority (GIICA) will now continue the Project Validation Report process with WaterProof and the international federations. The Rockhampton facility remains in its planning and approvals phase, which is scheduled to run into 2027, with a proposed capacity of 14,000.
Further work will cover infrastructure upgrades and venue operations, as well as the permanent facilities intended to support local rowing and paddling after 2032.
Rockhampton’s selection has prompted questions over currents, flooding and whether every lane can provide equal racing. Representatives from Britain, New Zealand, Germany and Canada raised those issues at this month’s World Rowing Congress, as covered in our report on the venue dispute.
The Fitzroy River is also home to crocodiles. Rowing officials have focused primarily on racing integrity. Queensland records covering more than 40 years show no recorded crocodile attacks on humans in the river, while event procedures require racing to stop if one is sighted.
The technical endorsement addresses whether the river can support fair racing under the assessed conditions. The Project Validation Report must now establish what infrastructure and operations the venue requires.
