Uhhhh . . OK: For 2032 Olympics, One Possible Rowing Site Near Brisbane Is Saltwater Crocodile Habitat

[hatrack]

EDIT

On the eve of Crusafulli’s much anticipated announcement, the national broadcaster reported the chief executive of Rowing Australia, Sarah Cook, as saying her organisation was concerned the Fitzroy would not meet World Rowing technical specifications. On Monday the ABC published Cook’s comments that a “key criteria” of a standard international course was that “there should be no stream”. “The issue for us at this point is that we know that World Rowing and the [International Olympic Committee] have not yet been consulted in relation to that venue,” Cook said.

“So, we simply don’t have the technical assessment to know whether it is a viable option or not.” Cook was more relaxed about crocs, however, noting Rockhampton’s active rowing community and use as an Olympic training venue, while acknowledging the deadly reptiles could prove “quite shocking” for international visitors. The Australian rowing team trained in the Rockhampton waterway before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and plans to do so again before the Los Angeles Games.

But it is not just foreigners surprised by the fact Olympic athletes will be asked to compete on water that even the local rowing club president acknowledges is natural crocodile habitat.

Just hours before the plan was officially unveiled, Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was asked on radio what he thought about the then unofficial reports of Rockhampton as an Olympic rowing venue – and if he himself would swim the Fitzroy. “I’m not sure how sensible a proposition that is,” Albanese told Brisbane’s B105. “My understanding is it was sort of listed eight out of eight as options, and if there were 15 options, it would have been 15.”

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/25/lovely-gentle-dinosaurs-brisbane-2032-olympic-rowing-may-be-held-in-saltwater-crocodile-habitat

[Sanity Claws]

1. At least it's not a swimming site

Maybe if they used the site for swimming, all-time speed records might be set. Hmmm. Something to consider.

[hlthe2b]

2. Well, they will either have "all time rowing records" or not--depending on how cautious this makes them...

Sheesh... Of course, the intermittent high microbial levels in the Thames that required them to constantly reschedule those events was a challenge, but saltwater crocodiles would seem much worse.

[exboyfil]

3. At least it was in a movie if a rower's paddle is broken

They jump out of the boat to let the remaining rowers stay competitive.

[Silent Type]

4. Local authorities need to keep the crocs well fed during events.

[mackdaddy]

5. I have personally seen Saltwater crocks jump 8 feet up out of the water.

I was in the Darwin NT area for a job many years ago. We went to a Crock farm and they had hundreds there up to nearly 20 feet long. One thing they did was put on a show where there was a deck 15 of so feet above the big Crocodial pond. They would dangle a whole dead chicken on a rope 8-10 feet over the water. One of the crocs would come rocketing straight up out of the water and grab the chicken. So, no thanks.
The company owner had one dinner for us at the local marina. Among the docks, They had these giant cages in the water that were cylinders six feet in diameter and 20 feet long with a large door on one end. These were Croc traps where they would trap them and then move them to the croc farm. I think they would eventually turn them into purses and boots.

In the three weeks I was there there were two people killed by crocks. One woman who tried swimming in a river, and another fisherman where the crock had jumped onto the transom of the johnboat and got the fisherman.
They recovered most of both bodies, but they had problems moving the woman's body. They had her in a body bag draped across the bow of the boat. Another crock jumped up and grabbed the body bag dragging it into the water. Again recovered, but no local would transport it and the Aussi Coast guard had to send a boat up river to transport it. I still have the newspaper stories somewhere.

So let whoever made this decision try rowing in those waters. They will probably be ok.