Australia’s Olympic sailing team now has its first ‘home stadium’ with the launch of its new National Training Centre in Sydney.

The new centre will be vital for the team’s preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games, providing state-of-the-art training facilities in an ideal location at Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney.

Minister for Sport Mark Arbib officially opened the training centre on 23 September with partners Yachting Australia, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

‘The team recently achieved exceptional results at the Olympic test event in Weymouth, bringing home two gold and one silver medal and this new centre will help them achieve success in future,’ Senator Arbib said.

The importance of the new facility was emphasised by Australian Sailing Team High Performance Director Peter Conde.

‘The Centre will facilitate a new level of interaction and engagement between coaches and athletes across our disciplines and will be incredibly important as we close in on the London 2012 Olympic Games and well into the future,’ he said.

‘The setting is ideal, providing training access to a tremendous variety of wind, wave and current conditions for the Australian Sailing Team and Australian Sailing Squad.’

The Australian Government is investing almost $6 million in sailing in 2011–12.  This includes more than $5.4 million for High Performance sport and $290 000 as part of the Green and Gold Project, which directs funding to key Olympic sports where it will make a difference.