Rowing… and rugby? Rockhampton in line for more Olympic events

Rockhampton could host more than just rowing for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the Central Queensland city making a pitch to host more events at its new stadium.

The previous Labor government instigated the $63 million redevelopment of Browne Park in 2023, and it was opened by the new LNP government’s sports minister, Tim Mander, in April.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, visiting Rockhampton this week to celebrate the city’s planned Olympic rowing and canoe course passing its first technical assessment , confirmed there had been discussions about hosting other events at Browne Park.

He said that would ultimately be determined by the 2032 sports program, which was expected to be finalised later this year or in early 2027.

“With that program will come the other ability and benefit for other venues across the state, as well as the training venues,” Bleijie said.

“So what happens is between now and the 2032, people will be reaching out [to host events].”

Bleijie said venues not in the 2032 delivery plan could still host events, such as cricket at Harrop Park in Mackay, should it remain an Olympic sport after Los Angeles 2028.

Speaking in the bowels of the newly renamed Aurizon Stadium’s new Jack Crow Stand , which bears his grandfather’s name, venue manager Rob Crow said the stadium would be ready and able to host Olympic competitions.

Crow said the stadium, which offers sweeping views of Rockhampton and its surrounding mountains from the new stand, would be able to host any rectangular sport.

Of the sports confirmed for LA 2028, that could include soccer, flag football, lacrosse or rugby sevens.

Counting against rugby sevens would be the tendency to host the event in a single venue – it was held solely at the Stade de France in Paris 2024, Tokyo Stadium in 2020 and the Deodoro Stadium in Rio 2016.

Crow said he was aware of Olympic conversations “inside the walls of government” but nothing concrete had been shared with venue management.

“We’re not-for-profit, so it’s all about just bringing something to a regional area that we normally miss out on here, right in the centre of the state,” Crow said.

“We tend to miss out here. So, if we can get on a level footing and get those big events, I think we’ve we’ve done our job.”