Reports indicate the Fitzroy River has successfully undergone a technical evaluation for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Local news sources state that organizers of the Olympics have given their approval for a river populated by crocodiles to serve as the location for rowing and canoeing competitions during the 2032 Brisbane Games in Australia.
Located approximately 600km north of Brisbane, the Fitzroy River was chosen as an Olympic site in March; however, it drew criticism from both domestic and global bodies that cautioned the river failed to meet technical specifications. Beyond its crocodile inhabitants, the river is also noted for its powerful tidal currents.
Nevertheless, on Tuesday, Queensland state parliamentarian Matt Canavan informed the press that the river had successfully cleared preliminary assessments conducted by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA).
“We have received approval for rowing in 2032. All relevant data has been collected, and there are no remaining obstacles to hosting rowing events at this location,” Canavan stated.
The representative asserted that recent data demonstrated the waterway is “flat as a tack,” thereby refuting safety apprehensions.
”Indeed, if Jesus Christ were to return to this world, it would be an ideal spot for him, given it is sufficiently level to walk upon,” he remarked.
© Getty Images/SonerCdem
The Fitzroy River serves as an inherent environment for saltwater crocodiles, with observations and accounts of four-meter-long individuals reported close to a nearby golf club situated within the designated Olympic and Paralympic competition zone. Notwithstanding this, the river is reportedly used for rowing activities by schools and a local club, in addition to elite training programs.
Sarah Black, President of the Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club, stated that the amenities would be prepared to accommodate an Olympic-grade regatta prior to 2032. Black maintained that procedures are in place for reporting crocodile observations, underscoring that living alongside these creatures is an integral aspect of life in the area.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, quipped on Wednesday that athletes “won’t be scared of crocodiles” following their experience swimming in the Seine, referencing the open-water events at the Paris Olympics, which were troubled by controversies concerning the highly contaminated river’s state.
Brisbane secured the hosting rights for the 2032 Summer Olympics in July 2021, thereby becoming the third Australian city to stage the Games, after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.