In short:
Rowing and canoe sprint events are scheduled to be held on the Fitzroy River during the 2032 Brisbane Games.
asserted
events → schedule → Games
Hundreds of school-age rowers are testing the Rockhampton course and facilities at a state regatta this weekend.
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Hundreds → test → regatta
It's 7am on Saturday and the crack of a starter's gun can be heard in the distance upstream.
Eight boats spring from the starting line, as teenage rowers begin to slice through the glassy, brown waters of the Fitzroy River in central Queensland.
The action is beamed back to their supporters on a big screen on the riverbank which, just minutes before, featured a video advertisement for the local crocodile farm.
We'll get to the 'crocodile in the room' shortly.
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We → hear → room
Olympic dreams take shape
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dreams → take → shape
Ryan Hendrie trains and races on the mighty Fitzroy every day.
But on Saturday, the 18-year-old said knowing the river was now all but confirmed as an Olympic rowing course gave it a different feeling.
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river → train → feeling
"It's amazing to think that I'm rowing at the same spot that Olympians are going to be rowing at," he said before his race.
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he → think → race
As future Olympic dreams start taking shape for almost 700 athletes at the three-day state regatta, some young rowers, like Ryan, can already picture themselves there.
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rowers → start → themselves
He'll be 24 when the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games rolls around.
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Games → roll → ?
"I definitely think that could be an amazing achievement if I could achieve something like that," he said.
uncertain
he → think → that
We've had the Australian [team] row here and train here [before] most Olympics."
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team → have → Olympics
'Inspiring to all the students'
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli this week announced the Rockhampton venue had passed an independent technical assessment "with flying colours" to host rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2032 Brisbane Games.
It came after months of fierce debate over the Fitzroy River's suitability, including its status as a crocodile habitat.
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It → inspire → habitat
The premier delivered the news to Rockhampton Grammar School director of co-curricular Todd Wells, alongside a group of school rowers.
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premier → deliver → rowers
We had no idea what was coming, basically, apart from a call from the premier," Mr Wells said.
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Wells → have → premier
"In six years' time, they'll be right in the mix of hopefully selection for the Olympics and that's what it's all about, providing pathways for these students."
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it → provide → students
So what do visitors think?
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visitors → think → what
Coolangatta's Bruce Waldon was checking out the Fitzroy River and newly minted Olympic rowing course for the first time while he supported his grandson.
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he → check → grandson
"I have no problem with it at all, although I have seen some of the videos from overseas and their jibes at us," he said.
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he → have → us
"I wish the water was clearer but, besides that, I think it's a good venue."
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it → wish → that
Townsville mother Camilla Richardson has attended rowing regattas before on the Fitzroy River with her two sons.
"
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Richardson → attend → sons
We're going to see the Olympics here in 2032 so it's such an honour and a privilege to be back,"she said.
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it → go → 2032
"It's great for regional Queensland because, coming from Townsville, we are in the deep north and we often get forgotten about, so this is wonderful for the regions."
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this → come → regions
Ms Richardson also had no concerns about the Fitzroy's resident crocodiles.
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Richardson → have → crocodiles
"It won't be a problem, you stay in your boat and you row, and it's going to be a fabulous course for all the rowers," she said.
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she → stay → rowers
"We're on the Ross River in Townsville and [my sons] often row past wildlife and we all just co-
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we → row → wildlife
Games fever building
The 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics are set to stage rowing and canoe sprint events on the Fitzroy River.
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Olympics → build → River
It follows an independent technical assessment of this very stretch of water, which World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide endorsed "as safe and fair for athletes".
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Rowing → follow → athletes
But the international sporting bodies eagerly await the next phase of venue planning.
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bodies → await → planning
These include technical details and confirmation of service levels and facilities needed for Olympic and Paralympic competitions.
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These → include → competitions
The weekend's regatta is the first state-level rowing event hosted by Rockhampton in five years, placing a timely spotlight on the controversial Olympic selection of the central Queensland waterway.
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regatta → host → waterway
While Rowing Queensland acknowledged the schools' regatta should not be viewed as a test or demonstration event for the Olympics, Games fever was evident among competitors, officials and spectators on Saturday.
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fever → acknowledge → Saturday
"It's a very positive vibe at the moment, everyone's concentrating on the event and their racing," Rowing Queensland chief executive Anthea O'Loughlin said.
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O'Loughlin → concentrate → event
The Aporia
