The Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) centre in northern Italy is set to receive a welcome boost in breakfast supplies with a pallet load of cereal being sent from Canberra to help feed the growing number of athletes at the centre.

The AIS’s European Training Centre in Varese is currently hosting the Australian rowing team along with members of the triathlon, track and field and canoe sprint teams.

Early next month water polo players and members of the track cycling team will also be at the AIS ETC.

“We currently have almost 100 people, including staff, using the AIS ETC and that obviously puts pressure on supplies,” said AIS Director Matt Favier.

“Come next month that number that number will go up to about 150 people so any extra food supplies we can get over there are welcome.

“The entire Australian rowing team will have been at the AIS ETC for 10 weeks by the time they leave at the end of July and they have notoriously large appetites.”

Australian men’s eight rower and team captain Cameron McKenzie-McHarg said the team were looking forward to the pallet carrying 108 family size boxes of cereal arriving in Italy.

“In the men’s eight we go through a ton of food at breakfast time,” he said.

“We keep the staff on their toes at the ETC to ensure there is enough breakfast food and these supplies should arrive just in time.”

“My favourite thing for breakfast is a big bowl of cereal with cold milk. Actually, that would be my favourite thing to eat - period.

“For my first breakfast I have a big bowl of cereal, while my second breakfast is another bowl of cereal with two bits of toast and jam.”

For McKenzie-McHarg’s team mate in the men’s eight, Sam Loch, breakfast is what dreams are made from.

“I go to bed at night thinking about my breakfast for the next morning,” he said.

"The biggest difference for a rower's breakfast is that we have two of them - pre and post training.”

The cereal will be shipped from the AIS in Canberra today and is expected to reach Varese by the end of next week.
The AIS ETC, located on the shores of Lake Varese in Gavirate, was officially opened in March last year.

“The aim of the ETC is to replicate the AIS's training environment and act as a "home away from home" for athletes,” Favier said.

The mental, physical and financial costs of travelling back and forth between Australia and Europe are significant, but with the AIS ETC we can alleviate a lot of that pressure and create a familiar and supportive environment like athletes experience at the AIS in Canberra.”