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

September 22, 2026 — 10:39amRockhampton 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.Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie with Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland in Central Queensland this week.Sylvia LiberHe 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.Aurizon Stadium (Browne Park) stadium manager Rob Crow says the venue stands ready to host Olympic events in 2032.Cameron AtfieldSpeaking 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.“We’re just preparing for anything that may come our way,” Crow said.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.But he was enthusiastic about the role the venue could play in 2032.“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.Rockhampton’s Browne Park has undergone a $63 million renovation.Queensland government“A lot of events go, obviously, to Brisbane, but also to Townsville.“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.”Of greater concern to Crow was getting stage two, which would add another grandstand at the northern end of the stadium, off the ground for a proposed NRL team.“There’s a regional side [bidding to join the NRL] that covers from here in Rockhampton and Central Queensland through to Toowoomba and the south-west,” he said.“We believe that will come to fruition and, if that does come to fruition, in the early days at least they’ll be playing out of here because Toowoomba doesn’t have a stadium.”Capricornia Chamber of Commerce president Jason Foss said he hoped the opportunity would be explored, though he was not sure if Rockhampton would have the capacity to host more than one Olympic event concurrently.“I’d love to have something like that here, because I’m more of a rectangular sports person myself rather than the rowing person,” he said.“As long as we can handle the additional accommodation and influx, and that’s why I guess that’s a decision that might need to be made sooner rather than later.”Comment has been sought from the Brisbane 2032 organising committee.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.More:Brisbane 2032 OlympicsRockhamptonJarrod BleijieOlympicsTim ManderParalympic GamesBrisbaneFor subscribersFrom our partners