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Some of Australia’s most decorated Olympians have stressed the importance of fit-for-purpose venues at the Brisbane 2032 Games, as the Queensland government continued to insist the controversial plan to host Olympic rowing and canoeing on a river.
Olympic swimming legend Ian Thorpe said he hoped Brisbane’s planned National Aquatic Centre at Victoria Park learnt the lessons from Sydney 2000, where the Homebush venue was made without consultation with elite sport.
“The pool’s basically been filled in, so you can’t use it at an appropriate height that wouldn’t be dangerous for young people warming up at a competition,” he said, referring to the decision to maintain the training pool at a shallow fixed height for community use, which prevented the depth required for high-velocity competition entries.
“…The conditions now you need [to host elite competition are] two 50-metre pools in the same venue – that’s what the governing body says.”
Last year, Thorpe joined the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee’s athletes and sports advisory group.
“I don’t get to say what Brisbane does or doesn’t do, I can only advise on what’s best for the athletes and to try and provide the appropriate facilities that athletes will require – that the governing bodies require – during an Olympic Games,” he said on Thursday, at the announcement of the Commonwealth Bank as Brisbane 2032’s foundation sponsor.
“But also have the capacity to be able to move in size, what it looks like during and post-Olympic Games as well, so that it’s the right fit for Brisbane.”
Asked specifically about the Fitzroy River rowing and canoe course, three-time Olympic gold medallist Jessica Fox – whose slalom discipline would be held at the Redland Whitewater Centre in 2032 – said she had faith in the certification process.
“Athletes want to be able to compete in the best conditions and in the best venues,” she said.
“… Athletes understand that those decisions lie with the organising committee, the government and the sporting bodies, and we can put on a great show. I know it’ll be the best conditions for everyone.”
World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation were expected to visit the Fitzroy River course in Rockhampton in the coming weeks. Despite the Queensland government’s insistence 2032 events will be held on the course, the ultimate decision will rest with those governing bodies.
Queensland Olympics Minister Tim Mander again said no alternatives to the Fitzroy River were being considered, a stance that has angered rowers who fear New South Wales might end up hosting the events at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith.
Asked if it was reckless for the government not to have a backup plan, Mander said: “Not when you’re confident.”
“With regards to Rockhampton, we believe that it is the right place,” he said.
“Everything that we’ve done so far suggested there’s no major obstacles. There’s no reason to be looking at an alternative when you have the confidence level that we have.”
Mander said the No.1 reason for “a 180-degree turnabout” on support for the Olympics was the decentralisation of the 2032 Games – and the rowing and paddle events in Rockhampton were central to that.
“Everything doesn’t have to be in Brisbane and if you took the argument that some people are putting to us about rowing and other events being where the population base is, there would be no events anywhere in regional Queensland,” he said.
“We don’t accept that logic. We are very committed to rowing [in Rockhampton]. It is going according to plan. All the processes are taking place and what’s happening with the evaluation of the venue in Rockhampton is the same thing that’s happening at every venue where there will be an event.”
The City of Moreton Bay has proposed a permanent flat water facility at a decommissioned Boral quarry at Lawnton, which would allow racing on still water.
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