Premier’s snobbery claim as questions raised over Olympic venue
The Premier has taken aim at “overseas elites” who raised questions over Rockhampton’s suitability to host rowing events in the 2032 Olympic Games.
International rowing bosses have been dismissed as “overseas elites” by the state premier after raising concerns over a regional river hosting the sport in 2032.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also accused hundreds of athletes, including Olympic champions, of snobbery – after they asked for 2032 rowing to be relocated from Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River.
It ramped up at a recent World Rowing Congress meeting where the British, New Zealand and German federations reportedly told 2032 bosses their athletes were worried about the venue’s fairness, safety and sustainability.
They cited a petition asking for the venue to be built in southeast Queensland that was signed by more than 500 athletes including Oarsome Foursome member Drew Ginn.
Crisafulli accused critics of not wanting an Olympic sport to be held in a regional area.
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“Some of the interstate and overseas elites are thumbing their nose because it’s being held in a regional centre and that’s what this is about,” Crisafulli said on the Sunshine Coast this week.
“Let’s scratch beneath the surface and call it for what it is. It’s a group of interstate and overseas elites who believe that a regional area is not befitting of them.
“I’ve seen it all my life. I grew up in regional Queensland and I’ve heard the same nonsense for too many years.”
Crisafulli said he could not find an example of a Fitzroy River flood in July or August in the past 180 years.
An alternative $250 million proposal at Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, is being promoted by the local council as a world‑standard course at about half the cost of Rockhampton’s site.
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But the premier said: “Rowing will be in Rockhampton.”
The man who helped organise the athlete petition – QRowunion chairman Garry Merritt – said the premier’s comments were childish.
He said the last time a river had been used for Olympic rowing was in London 1948, when races were held on the Thames.
Merritt said the Fitzroy River had environmental and field of play issues.
“To make it fair they’d have to dredge the river and get the same depths right across it, and somehow stop the wind from blowing on the day,” he said.
Holding rowing in Rockhampton would deprive athletes of the full Olympic experience that host city Brisbane could provide, he said.
“The whole government response has been rather childish and demeaning, rather than being open in dialogue and trying to look at the real problems,” he said.
“He fails to see that the people who actually know the sport are really trying to help him make sensible decisions.”
Asked about the 2032 venue, Rowing Australia chief operating officer Sarah Cook said the sport had a rich history in regional Australia.
“Regional Australia has always been an important part of the Australian rowing story,” she said.
World Rowing has the final say on the 2032 venue and its technical assessment of the Fitzroy River is ongoing.
-with AAP
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