Latest news with #canoeslalom
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Locals want to sink bid for new Olympic whitewater site
A plan to build a Brisbane 2032 whitewater venue has been rejected by an angry community amid calls for an Olympic drawcard to be held interstate. The proposed Redland Whitewater Centre east of Brisbane is set to host canoe slalom in 2032 after the Queensland government rejected a recommendation to hold the event in NSW. It looms as a major Brisbane Games attraction with champion sisters Jessica and Noemie Fox not ruling out vying for 2032 Olympic gold. But locals believe they have drawn "the short straw" in a long-awaited 2032 plan, calling for canoe slalom to be hosted at 2000 Games venue Penrith, NSW. "It has been forced upon the people of the Redlands city, we never asked for it," Birkdale Progress Association's treasurer Ross Spence told a Queensland parliamentary committee hearing on Monday. The Redlands appeared to be one of the big winners of the 2032 venue plan that was finally unveiled by the Queensland government in March, more than 1300 days after Brisbane was named host city for the Games. The whitewater site proposed at Birkdale features 8000 temporary seats and an integrated warm-up channel, providing Australia a much-needed world class canoe slalom venue. But locals are outraged, citing financial and environmental concerns. A community spokesman said the "damn" whitewater facility should be hosted by Penrith where it was "wanted", citing the Los Angeles 2028 Games. At the LA Games, canoe slalom will be hosted about 3000km away in Oklahoma - almost triple the distance from Brisbane to Penrith. "Not even the Americans are going to put a new whitewater facility in," Redlands2030 Inc president Steven MacDonald told the committee hearing. "We could follow the example of our American cousins and move the damn thing somewhere where it's wanted." A senate inquiry recommended Penrith as the "first and only choice" for a 2032 whitewater venue, raising concerns a Redlands venue may become a "white elephant". The Queensland government rejected the concerns, opting to hold every 2032 Olympic event in the state. Mr Spence feared a Redlands whitewater facility would become an ongoing financial burden after the Games, questioning its viability. "A whitewater stadium is the short straw of Olympic venues," he said. Mr Spence was addressing committee hearings to allow consultation on a bill giving the Games infrastructure authority power to override 15 planning laws, including environmental protection and heritage acts. The laws will ensure Olympic venue construction is not delayed by potential legal challenges, with the final planning sign-off given to the state government, not local councils. Locals also raised environmental concerns on Monday, saying the proposed Birkdale site was next to two state heritage-listed sites and bushland home to endangered wildlife, including koalas. They feared Olympic construction not subject to planning laws might destroy the heritage sites and impact healthy koala colonies. "By setting aside these laws and protections, the state government is choosing to deny democracy and the rights of communities everywhere to have a voice," Mr Spence said. The proposed Redlands site will be only the second world-class whitewater facility built in Australia after the Penrith venue was constructed for Sydney 2000, becoming the Fox sisters' home course. Peak body Paddle Australia was ecstatic about the plan, with CEO Kim Crane hoping locals would embrace the facility and help build competitor depth. "We have been craving an additional course. We have been punching above our weight with one," Ms Crane told AAP in March. "We will now be able to secure more international events - it's a real legacy."
ABC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Jessica Fox finishes the opening canoe slalom World Cup of the year with mixed fortunes
Three-time Olympic champion Jessica Fox has finished the opening canoe slalom World Cup of the year in Spain with mixed fortunes, unable to add another medal to her C1 triumph. Jessica and younger sister Noemie took on the kayak cross event on the final day of competition at La Seu d'Urgell, which hosted racing for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Noemi, the reigning Olympic champion from Paris last year, was eliminated in the first round after an error negotiating the fourth gate. Jessica made it through to the semifinals but placed third, just missing qualification for the four-paddler final, which was won by France's Olympic silver medallist Angele Hug. Looking to build toward a title at the world championships on her home course in Penrith in September, Jessica won gold in the C1 after turning in a shocker in the K1. In the kayak, she was docked a massive 54 seconds in penalties to finish third last in the 51-strong field. But the 30-year-old showed her composure to regroup for the canoe event, and despite qualifying for the final in ninth spot, she blitzed the field in the medal race. Jessica finished 4.10 seconds clear to claim her 34th World Cup gold medal in the event ahead of Czech Mren Lazkano despite being penalised two seconds for nudging a gate. Noemie placed 20th after finishing an admirable ninth in the K1. "I'm super happy with that final. It was great to get out there and put out a fast run so it's a great way to start the season," said Jessica, who admitted her preparation had been affected by other commitments since winning both the C1 and K1 gold medals in Paris. "It's a new format, with one heat and then straight into the final and it didn't go so well in the kayak and I was quite disappointed so I wanted to come back and put down some good paddling. "To win on the first World Cup is a great start but still four more races to go for the World Cup series and then the world championships is the main goal of the year." In the men's K1 event Australia's Lucien Delfour had one of his best World Cup performances to win bronze. Delfour had the fastest time of the day but was relegated to third behind Frenchmen Titouan Castryck and Anatole Delassus due to a gate penalty. AAP
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Highs and lows as Fox takes gold from World Cup opener
Three-time Olympic champion Jessica Fox has finished the opening canoe slalom World Cup of the year in Spain with mixed fortunes, unable to add another medal to her C1 triumph. Jessica and younger sister Noemie took on the kayak cross event on the final day of competition at La Seu d'Urgell, which hosted racing for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Advertisement Noemi, the reigning Olympic champion from Paris last year, was eliminated in the first round after an error negotiating the fourth gate. Olympic champion Jessica Fox celebrates after setting the pace in the C1 World Cup event in Spain. (HANDOUT/PADDLEAUSTRALIA) Jessica made it through to the semi-finals but placed third, just missing qualification for the four-paddler final, which was won by France's Olympic silver medallist Angele Hug. Looking to build toward a title at the world championships on her home course in Penrith in September, Jessica won gold in the C1 after turning in a shocker in the K1. In the kayak, she was docked a massive 54 seconds in penalties to finish third last in the 51-strong field. But the 30-year-old showed her composure to regroup for the canoe event and despite qualifying for the final in ninth spot she blitzed the field in the medal race. Advertisement Fox finished 4.10 seconds clear to claim her 34th World Cup gold medal in the event ahead of Czech Mren Lazkano despite being penalised two seconds for nudging a gate. Noemie placed 20th after finishing an admirable ninth in the K1. "I'm super happy with that final. It was great to get out there and put out a fast run so it's a great way to start the season," said Jessica, who admitted her preparation had been affected by other commitments since winning both the C1 and K1 gold medals in Paris. "It's a new format, with one heat and then straight into the final and it didn't go so well in the kayak and I was quite disappointed so I wanted to come back and put down some good paddling. Advertisement "To win on the first World Cup is a great start but still four more races to go for the World Cup series and then the world championships is the main goal of the year." In the men's K1 event Australia's Lucien Delfour had one of his best World Cup performances to win bronze. Delfour had the fastest time of the day but was relegated to third behind Frenchmen Titouan Castryck and Anatole Delassus due to a gate penalty.
