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European Training Centre Contract Signed
The Australian Sports Commission and the Province of Varese recently cemented their partnership by signing a contract for the construction of a European Training Centre for Australian athletes. The agreement was signed by Mark Peters, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Sports Commission, and Silvio Landonio of the Varese Provincial Government.
The Training Centre will be built on the shores of Lake Varese in northern Italy and involves a commitment of $11 million from the Australian Government and 5 million euros from the Varese Provincial Government. It will be a key element in the preparation of Australian athletes for future international competition.
The Centre seeks to provide a base for the Australian Institute of Sport and for national teams training and competing in Europe in a range of sports. The centre will provide residential, sports science, sports medicine and other facilities for short and long stay visits for up to 50 Australian athletes and coaches at any time. The Centre will essentially operate from March to October each year, with smaller numbers of visiting athletes during the European Winter months.
The town of Gavirate was chosen as the ideal site for the training centre due to its wide range of good quality sports facilities, its proximity to an international transport node as well as the main European competition centres, and its temperate climate.
Australian teams using the centre will have access to local facilities including the international rowing course, 50-metre outdoor pool, 400-metre athletics track, basketball stadiums, sprint canoe course and natural slalom canoe course, soccer pitches, archery fields and equestrian facilities.
The European Training Centre will replicate existing Australian innovation and expertise in sports science and sports medicine and establish it in Europe.
Demolition of the existing site should begin by May this year and the project should be completed by early 2009.
The signing is a major step in consolidating sporting relations between Australia and Italy. It should be seen as a partnership not only with the Varese community, but with Italian sport generally.
Photo Caption: Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Officer Mark Peters (left) with Varese Provincial Government representative Giangiacomo Longoni (right).
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