The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) European Training Centre (ETC) in Italy is a facility for all Australian elite athletes training or competing in Europe.

The centre offers accommodation, sports science and sports medicine capabilities with access to the best facilities in the region. The ETC replicates the training environment of the AIS and provides athletes with a European ‘home away from home’.

As part of Australia’s national lead high performance sports agency, the ETC is helping to deliver Australia’s international sporting success.

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A ‘home away from home’ for Australian sport

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2 The ETC is located in the town of Gavirate in the Province of Varese, Italy. The centre provides support to a range of sports including: rowing, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, football, volleyball, basketball, swimming, triathlon, rugby, golf, athletics, tennis and sailing.

The province also has facilities available for many other sports such

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as ice hockey, Australian rules football, boxing, table tennis, softball, baseball and water polo.

The ETC is a huge boost for Australian sport as, historically, the vastdistance between Australia and Europe and the expense of travel and accommodation has been a barrier to European training and competition.

• The Province of Varese was chosen for its:

• good climatic conditions

• access to Malpensa international airport in Milan (located 29 kilometres from Gavirate)

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• quiet roads for training and travel to training facilities

• good access to a range of competition venues and training facilities.

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The Australian Sports Commission (ASC), in conjunction with the Province of Varese, has been actively involved in developing the project and the future of the ETC.

The Australian and Varese Provincial governments are committed to the long-term success of this facility. This commitment has been made to enhance the opportunities for Australian athletes.

location the Province of Varese

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3 The facility offers the following amenities to support visiting Australian athletes:

• 25 ensuite bedrooms with two • sports science laboratory beds per room (including three • performance analysis room wheelchair accessible rooms)

• study area • commercial standard kitchen

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• lockable rooms for gear storage • self-catering kitchen

• bulk storage • dining hall

• meeting rooms • TV room

• visiting teams administration area • internet access (including Wi-Fi)

• on-site centre administration • laundry support • strength and conditioning gym • European Headquarters of • massage area Cycling Australia

• recovery pools • games room.

• medical and physiotherapy All of these amenities are accessible treatment rooms for athletes and staff with disability.

• change facilities

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What the European Training Centre offers

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4 The Province of Varese has a wide range of training and competition facilities including:

• archery and shooting range • golf courses

• athletics tracks • rowing courses W

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• running and walking trails • rugby oval

• basketball halls (wheelchair accessible) • swimming pools

• beach volleyball • tennis courts

• canoe/kayak course • volleyball halls

• combat sports halls • multi-use playing fields

• cycling (road, BMX and mountain) • modern archery facility. • football pitches

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A number of these facilities are owned by the Province of Varese and are part of the arrangement with the ASC, while others are owned and operated commercially.

Additional sports can be catered for. The staff at the ETC will endeavour to source the appropriate facility to suit your training requirements. For enquiries, please email: europeantrainingcentre@ausport.gov.au

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What the Province of Varese offers

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5 There are a range of services available to visiting teams. These include:

• coordination of self-drive vehicles • Personal Excellence study hall for travel locally to and from venues • team administration offices and

• storage of personal and meeting rooms team equipment • on-site strength and conditioning gym

• access to physical therapies support • on-site recovery facilities • sports medicine support and medical • on-site recreation facilities

room for team doctors • home skype facilities

• sports science facilities

• twin-shared accommodation, with weekly servicing all meals

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European Training Centre services

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6 Volleyball In the final qualification season for the 2012 Olympic Games the Australian Men’s Volleyball Team (the Volleyroos) were preparing for the World Olympic Qualification Tournament to be held in early June 2012. The vast majority of the Volleyroos were based in Europe, so we therefore needed to maximise every day of our preparation. Utilising the AIS European Training Centre (AIS ETC) was the obvious choice to bring the team together.

The Volleyroos used the AIS ETC as our home base for a six week period which involved the team travelling around Europe for preparation matches between stays at the ETC. The AIS ETC staff provided excellent logistical assistance, ensuring the Volleyroos training and transport requirements were all met. The onsite facilities of the

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ETC such as the accommodation, gymnasium and recovery pools, are extremely functional and provided for all our needs during our stay.

The Volleyroos went on to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games for only the second time in their own right. The AIS ETC was an essential component to our preparation and we look forward to utilising the AIS ETC in preparation for Rio.

Matt Sebbens — High Performance Manager, Volleyball Australia

Rowing The Australian Rowing Team has utilised the ETC since its opening and will continue to do so in the future. The facilities and services provided, including the fantastic gymnasium and sport science and recovery areasńare of the highest order.

The service provided by the ETC staff and the relationships established with local service providers, allowed us to prepare for the 2012 London Olympic regatta with a minimum of stress and with very few disruptions. The proximity to Milan’s Malpensa airport allows easy and efficient transfer to competition venues in Europe and the UK, which is another plus for the ETC. ń

Rowing will continue to use the ETC as teams prepare for Championships being held in Europe.

Ray Ebert — Senior A Team Manager, Rowing Australia

Para-cycling The ETC continues to be an important hub for Para-cycling in Europe. It is ideally located for our programs during the Euro Road Cycling season with ready access to competitions in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France.

The ETC facilities,ńaccommodation and support infrastructure allow all para-cycling athletes to be comfortable and focus on their sport without distraction. The networks of roads in the area are also well suited to training for our programs.

To have a first class gym, physiotherapy and logistical assistance within a few steps of your room allows the cycling staff to know that almost all contingencies can be met and done with the highest professional standards. The staff at the ETC understand sport and are prepared and willing to go that ‘extra mile’ to help make your arrival, stay and departure run smoothly.

For Aussies, it’s a slice of our backyard in Italy!

Thomas Skulander — Assistant National Para-cycling Coach, Cycling Australia

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Province of Varese map 1 GAVIRATE 6 OLGIATE OLONA

> Athletics Track (track and field Mondo track) > European Training Centre > Village Idea Verde (Beach volleyball) > European Headquarters of Cycling Australia

> Gavirate Rowing Centre/Lake Varese (Rowing, Adaptive rowing) 7 BUSTO ARSIZIO > Gavirate Football Field (Football, Australian rules football) > Manara Swimming Pool (Triathlon, Swimming)

> Gavirate Volleyball Courts (Indoor volleyball, Basketball) > Athletics Track (Track and Field Mondo track) > Palayamamay (volleyball) > Edith Stein School (wheelchair basketball, volleyball)

CORGENO 82 LUVINATE > Varese Golf Club (Golf) > Corgeno Rowing Centre/Lake Comabbio (Canoe/Ka yak)

9 VERBANIA 3 BRUNELLO > Lake Maggiore (Sailing competition)

> GREENEdge Cycling 10 COMERIO

4 VARESE > Whirlpool Pool (Swimming, Triathlon, > Varese Stadium (Football) Synchronised swimming, Water polo) > Varese Rowing Club

11 CASTELLANZA > Varese Archery > Mapei Sport (medical services and science testing)

> Campus Sports Centre (Basketball, Wheelchair basketball) > Varese Whirlpool Stadium (Basketball) 12 TRAVEDONA – MONATE > A.S. Rugby Varese (Rugby) > Volleyball Centre (Volleyball, Basketball)

> Golf dei Laghi (golf)> Casciago Sporting Club (Tennis) > Panthers Club (Boxing) 13 VEDANO OLONA > Varese Pool (Water polo) > Palasport Mario Bixio (Volleyball) > Varese Athletics Track (Athletics) 14 MALNATE > Varese Province > Malnate Softball (softball) > 'Campus' Sports Medical Centre > Malnate Vikings Baseball (baseball) > Varese Ice Hockey Club (ice hockey, figure skating)

15 BREBBIA > Tiro a Segno Nazionale (shooting)

> Sport and Benessere 5 MONVALLE Malpensa

> Monvalle Sailing Club/Lake Maggiore (Sailing training) > International airport

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Bookings For further enquiries or to make a booking, please email: europeantrainingcentre@ausport.gov.au

For more information visit ausport.gov.au/etc

The European Training Centre is an Australian Sports Commission facility.

Photo CreditsCover image: Brett Clancy Page one: Kyrs Szatsznajder Page five: GreenEDGE Cycling