An Australian flavour in Italy
As the weather in Australia cools, locals and elite athletes alike are flocking to the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre (ETC) in Northern Italy.
21 May 2025
As the weather in Australia cools, locals and elite athletes alike are flocking to the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre (ETC) in Northern Italy.
The ETC hosted an Open Day which welcomed more than 350 locals.
The ETC is Australia’s world-class high-performance hub in Europe - a “Home Away From Home”.
The ETC is a key part of the fabric of Varese, a small Italian town, and this week the ETC hosted an Open Day.
Throwing its doors open to the community was a way of thanking the locals for having Australia’s best athletes use Varese as the backdrop for their Olympic and Paralympic journeys.
More than 350 locals enjoyed a series of interactive activities including sprints on ergometers and bikes, “hop like a kangaroo” sack races, kids activities and a gelato cart to help guests cool down under the warm spring sun along Lake Varese.
In a show of the welcoming Aussie spirit, guests had the chance to join guided tours of the centre.
Just like visitors to the AIS in Canberra, visitors could picture themselves as athletes enjoying the ETC’s extensive amenities, including the state-of-the-art gym, recovery pools, and upgraded athlete accommodation.
The showcase celebrated the achievements of 15 medal-winning athletes who trained at the ETC in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Games.
Always popular during the Aussie winter, the ETC will give Australia’s 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic teams a unique edge given its unique proximity to the Milano Cortina 2026 venues.
Amid the throng of Aussie athletes descending on the ETC, a Post Olympic Workshop for our major international counterparts will also be held this month.
This workshop will welcome leaders from the top ten Summer Games nations and top five Winter Games countries. A testament to Australia’s leadership in sports performance and diplomacy.
