Australian Sports Commission CEO Simon Hollingsworth recently paid his first visit to the AIS European Training Centre (ETC) in Varese, Italy. Now in its second year of operation, the ETC is administered by dedicated staff whose key objective is to provide training, acclimatisation, sports science and medical services to athletes using the facility as a base for national camps and major European sports competitions.

Having an elite sporting base overseas reduces the financial, physical and emotional effects of the demanding travel itinerary previously experienced by Australian athletes. Sports such as rowing have significantly reduced transportation costs as they can now store boats and equipment permanently at the ETC.

As the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games winds down, the ETC is being actively utilised by a range of high performance athletes as a recognised Olympic Training Centre.

Referred to as the ‘launch pad to London’, the AIS ETC offers exceptional amenities to visiting athletes, including en-suite bedrooms; physiotherapy consultation; sport physiology and biomechanics lab; self-catering kitchens; a dining hall and café; internet café; strength and conditioning gym; athlete career and education study hall; massage area; and state-of-the-art recovery pools.

The ASC staff who are based at the facility have worked hard to make Varese their new home, by learning to speak basic Italian, engaging with the local community, embracing the local culture and becoming immersed in their dynamic surroundings. They are assisted by some staff members who are Italian. Overall the staff has become ambassadors for Australia and its high performance athletic community.

The goal of all staff is to provide athletes with a European ‘home away from home’ that seamlessly replicates the AIS training environment in Australia and ensures that athletes will perform on a level playing field with their competitors.

'I’m really impressed by the achievements and tremendous team work of our staff here in Varese, and very proud that our training centre is making such a difference,' he said.

It is also important to note here the enduring and solid support of the local Varese Provincial government, which provided the fantastic site and constructed the building. The ETC is also fortunate to enjoy a close relationship with citizens of the surrounding Gavirate municipality (the local villages and hamlets are home to about 9,100 residents).

Watch Australia's Men's Eight Rowing team training on Lake Varese at the ETC.