The Albanese Government is backing Australian athletes with world-class facilities, with work underway on the $249.7 million redevelopment of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
Alongside the Albanese Government’s record-breaking $513 million for high performance athletes and sports, this investment in the AIS supports Australia’s talent on the road to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
The AIS Podium Project includes a High Performance Testing and Training Centre, a new indoor sport dome – the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – and a modern, fully accessible residence, supporting our Para-athletes, where athletes can rest, recover and connect while training at the AIS.
Demolition works are now 50 per cent complete on the former AIS athlete village, which has housed Australian Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes since 1985, to make way for the next generation of elite sporting facilities.
Initial construction for the new facilities is planned to begin later this year, with family-owned Australian company Richard Crookes Construction appointed to deliver the main works.
The project will create more than 300 jobs for Canberrans over the course of the build.
The redevelopment builds on the Australian Sports Commission’s recent investment in high performance infrastructure at the AIS, including the new Altitude House and Environment Chamber.
These projects ensure Australian athletes can access the best training and performance environments on home soil as they prepare for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport Anika Wells:
“The Albanese Government is proud to back our world-class athletes with this $249.7 million upgrade to the AIS in Canberra.
“Our athletes deserve facilities that match their ambition, and this project will ensure they have the environments they need to train, recover and perform at their best as they take on the world.
“Generations of Australia’s greatest athletes honed their talents at the AIS and we’re ensuring these facilities are unbeatable now and into the future to support our athletes on the road to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
“From playground to podium, the Albanese Government is backing sport and investing in the benefits it delivers for all Australians.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Finance and Senator for ACT Katy Gallagher:
“For too long the AIS was allowed to age without the investment needed to keep it at the forefront of Australian sport. The Albanese Labor Government is changing that.
“This $249.7 million redevelopment is a major investment in the future of the AIS, in our athletes and in Canberra’s role as the home of Australian sport.
“It will deliver world-class facilities, create more than 300 local jobs and ensure the AIS remains at the heart of Australian high-performance sport for decades to come.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Canberra Alicia Payne:
“The Australian Institute of Sport is a much-loved Canberra institution that has fostered the careers of countless athletes and coaches over the last 45 years.
“The AIS has produced world-beating superstars including Alisa Camplin, Louise Sauvage and Rob De Castella, and this redevelopment will mean it continues to do so for generations to come.
“I’m so proud to be part of a government that has invested in the AIS to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose as we build towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games and beyond.”
Quotes attributable to Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM:
“This is a significant step as we begin the biggest upgrade of the AIS since it was built more than 40 years ago.
“The three new world-class buildings will ensure our athletes have access to the best testing, training and accommodation not only in the leadup to Brisbane 2032, but for generations to come.
“This work coincides with the new AIS Environmental Chamber and an altitude living facility also coming online to ensure our athletes have access to world-class facilities on their doorstep.
“I would like to thank the Australian Government for its support and belief in our athletes.”
