Given there is a vast distance between Australia and Europe, the expense of travel and accommodation has been a barrier to European training and competition.

The Province of Varese has excellent climatic conditions and has easy access to a range of competition venues and sporting facilities.

The AIS European Training Centre provides accessible accommodation, training facilities, and support services for visiting Australian athletes and support staff, including those with a disability. These services and facilities include:

• 25 ensuite bedrooms with two beds per room and weekly servicing. This includes 7 wheelchair accessible rooms.
• Single and twin hotel accommodation is also available adjacent to the ETC at Sunset Hotel.
• Dining hall with local onsite catering and an AIS Sport Nutrition approved food service program.
• Strength and conditioning gym.
• Hot and cold recovery pools.
• Physical therapy and medical support (during peak season for Australian high performance athletes).
• Sports medicine consulting rooms for team doctors.
• Sport science laboratory.
• Media room.
• Free Wi-Fi.
• TV room.
• Extensive storage for boats and equipment.
• Laundry.
• Self-catering kitchen.
• Games room and chill out zone.
• Physiotherapy and massage area.
• Quiet or study room.
• Team administration offices and meeting rooms.
• Conference facilities.
• On-site centre administration support, including coordination of training/competition venues.
• Coordination of self-drive vehicles for travel locally to/from venues.

Training and competition facilities in the Province of Varese

A number of these facilities are owned by the Province of Varese and form the basis of the cooperation arrangement with the Australian Sports Commission, while others are commercially owned and operated.

• Archery range
• Athletics track (incl. pole vault, high jump, and long jump)
• Basketball halls (wheelchair accessible)
• Beach volleyball
• Canoe/kayak courses
• Combat sports halls
• Cycling (road, BMX, and mountain)
• Football pitches
• Golf courses
• Ice hockey and skating rinks
• Multiuse playing fields, including synthetic fields
• Rowing courses
• Running/race walking paths and trails
• Rugby oval
• Sailing facilities
• Shooting range
• Swimming pool (25m)
• Table tennis
• Triathlon training courses
• Tennis courts
• Volleyball halls

Please contact us for additional sporting facilities that can be catered for.