Queensland Premier hits back at 'overseas elites' over Rockhampton Olympic venue concerns

Queensland's premier has defended the state's choice to host Olympic rowing and canoe sprint events in Rockhampton, hitting out at "overseas elites" who have questioned the suitability of the Fitzroy River as a venue.

The state government has selected the Fitzroy River for the events, which requires final sign-off from the sport's governing body, World Rowing. At a recent World Rowing congress, representatives from New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and the UK raised concerns over the venue's sustainability and location.

Premier David Crisafulli said he was confident the venue would be "world-class" and would be held in the "beef capital" of Rockhampton. "Let's be honest, let's scratch beneath the surface and call it for what it is," he said. "It is a group of interstate and overseas elites who are trying to bully their way because they don't want to go to regional Queensland and that's not right."

Crisafulli said the criticism comes from athletes and supporters "who believe that a regional area is not befitting of them".

The concerns were raised after a virtual presentation by Brisbane 2032 chief executive Cindy Hook and chief sports officer Kit McConnell. German Rowing Federation president Moritz Petri said he had been contacted by athletes who had heard "rumours about Rockhampton" and had questioned its sustainability.

"They were saying if we are not being in the core of the Olympic city, and not being part of the Olympic village, why we are then not using the former Sydney 2000 regatta course which should still be there?" Petri said. "Isn't it more sustainable from an environmental perspective?"

British Rowing chief executive Tom Salisbury said concerns had also been voiced to him about "fairness and delivery" at the course. Rowing Canada president Tracey Black questioned whether building a new facility would be considered if the assessment was not as "favourable" as hoped.

There has been scrutiny over the river's natural bends, the course having a current, being prone to flooding and being home to crocodiles.

World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland said its in-depth technical assessment of the course was ongoing and World Rowing would ensure athletes had the "conditions they deserve to compete and perform".

Hook told the congress the organisers would come up with "contingency plans as we would for any venue". "I also just caution everybody, there are a lot of people talking about this, not always with full facts, especially when it comes to throwing out other potential locations," she said.

Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland quashed any suggestion rowing and canoe sprint events would be held outside the region. "I can emphatically say that rowing and canoeing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held right here in Rockhampton," she said.

"Our community have absolutely no concerns around the validity of this as a perfect site, a perfect place to host the Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing."

Kirkland said if it was good enough for local schoolchildren to compete on it was good enough for Olympians. "We're going to have the state rowing competition for our schools right here," she said. "All the lanes are in, they're ready to go, they'll be rowing, and if it's good enough for them to row on the Fitzroy River, then it's good enough for the Europeans, for the Americans, for the Canadians, for those coming from Japan and China, all around the world."