2032 Olympics: crocodiles worry rowing competitions in Australia

Concerns are rising over the presence of crocodiles in the Fitzroy River, in north Queensland, designated to host the 2032 Olympic rowing competitions, after the sighting of a large crocodile during a school rowing competition last September. However, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli confirmed the river as a suitable venue for the Olympic competitions in a press conference last Monday. “Many decades of success demonstrate that it is a world-class venue,” he said.

The crocodile sighting is the latest setback for the Crisafulli government and its plans to designate the river for Olympic rowing. Last October World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland rejected the Queensland Government's insistence that the choice of the Fitzroy River was "final".

In an interview with French sports media Francs Jeux he said the location was at risk of flooding and "has not been approved", adding that there were still strong doubts about its suitability to host the event. "We know that periods of rain can bring very strong currents in that river, which has already happened twice this year. If this were to happen during the Olympic Games year, it would put the event at serious risk," Rolland said.