What is the Australian Institute of Sport?
The Australian Institute of Sport, or AIS, is Australia's national elite sports training center, based in Canberra. Established in 1981, it helps develop and support Australia's top athletes.
The AIS was created after Australia's disappointing performance at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where the team won no gold medals. The government decided to invest in high-performance sport.
The institute provides training facilities, coaching, sports science and medical support. It has helped prepare athletes in sports such as swimming, rowing, cycling, basketball and athletics.
Impact on Australian sport
Australia's results at the Olympics improved greatly in the following decades, with the AIS credited as a major factor. Its model influenced high-performance programs in other countries.
Today, the AIS is part of the Australian Sports Commission and works with national sporting organizations to support athletes across Australia.
The Canberra campus in Bruce includes training halls, pools, an athletics track and accommodation. Guided tours let visitors see the facilities and try interactive sports activities. Many of Australia's best-known Olympians and world champions have trained at or been supported by the institute.