This Olympic river has 500 crocodiles in it - but that's not the main concern
The Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland, has been officially approved as the venue for rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics despite concerns from international rowing bodies. While the river is home to approximately 500 saltwater crocodiles, officials noted that no human attacks have been recorded in over 40 years, making fairness regarding tidal currents the primary issue. World Rowing and the IOC confirmed the site's suitability after a technical assessment, overriding previous reports that deemed the location unsuitable for elite competition.
- ▪The Fitzroy River in Rockhampton was endorsed by World Rowing and the IOC as the venue for 2032 Olympic rowing and canoe sprint events.
- ▪Approximately 500 saltwater crocodiles inhabit the river, though state records show no human attacks in the last 40 years.
- ▪International rowing officials raised concerns about the river's tidal currents and fairness for athletes, rather than the presence of crocodiles.
- ▪Queensland Premier David Crisafulli dismissed the international concerns as an attempt by elites to avoid competing in regional Queensland.
- ▪The approval came despite a 2025 government-commissioned report that initially found the location unsuitable for the events.
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| Publication time | Thu, 17 Sep 2026 19:35:23 GMT |
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This Olympic river has 500 crocodiles in it - but that's not the main concernImage source, Supplied: Rockhampton Regional CouncilImage caption, Queensland's Fitzroy River, home to saltwater crocodiles, has been approved as an Olympics rowing venue for 2032BySimon AtkinsonQueenslandPublished8 minutes agoThe annual rowing regatta for schools in the Australian state of Queensland usually passes off without too much attention.Each year more than 600 of the state's most promising teenage rowers battle it out on the crocodile-inhabited Fitzroy River, in the city of Rockhampton."We've never had any media wanting to attend here," Anthea O'Loughlin, head of Rowing Queensland, tells the BBC.But this year is different.
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