{
  "id": 8155817,
  "title": "Secrecy over Olympic rowing course fuels south-east rower backlash",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/secrecy-over-olympic-rowing-course-fuels-south-east-rower-backlash",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T02:44:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
    "slug": "the-sydney-morning-herald",
    "url": "https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/secrecy-over-olympic-rowing-course-fuels-south-east-rower-backlash-20260918-p60yir.html?ref=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Crisafulli government has not released a key report clearing Rockhampton's Olympic rowing venue, sparking anger from south-east Queensland rowers, according to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.\n\nThe rowing venue in question is located on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, around 600 kilometres north of Brisbane. According to The Island Sri Lanka and BBC World, the river is home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles.\n\nThe course has been approved by the sport's governing bodies, World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide, after a \"thorough and robust assessment\", as per Daily Times. The assessment, commissioned by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA), looked at the course's suitability under various conditions, but did not consider the crocodiles. Contingency plans are reportedly in place to ensure rower safety in the event of crocodile sightings.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "River home to 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/river-home-to-500-crocodiles-chosen-as-olympic-rowing-venue",
        "published": "2026-09-17T09:03:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Island Sri Lanka",
        "title": "River home to 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/river-home-to-500-crocodiles-chosen-as-olympic-rowing-venue-8024389",
        "published": "2026-09-17T11:26:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Secrecy over Olympic rowing course fuels south-east rower backlash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/secrecy-over-olympic-rowing-course-fuels-south-east-rower-backlash-8156143",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:44:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}