MILAN (AP) — Nestled in a lakeside town in northern Italy, Australia’s Milan Cortina Olympics’ “home away from home” — serving coffee and Vegemite.
About 15 years ago, the Australian Institute of Sport opened its European Training Center in Gavirat, about an hour’s drive from Milan.
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It has a fully equipped gym and games room with pool table, providing a training and relaxation base for the 3,000 Australian athletes who travel across Europe each year.
“This is a strategic vision because we know that one of the biggest troubles for Australian athletes is restrictions on travel distances,” Fiona de Jong, director of the center, told The Associated Press.
“So a 24-hour flight from Australia to Europe means that if you want to compete at the highest level, you can’t do it again and again. It’s the answer to the unique problem we face as a sporting nation.”
From the moment athletes arrive at the facility, AIS transforms the center into a small slice of Australia.
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Statues of kangaroos and emus wearing Australian scarves stand proudly at the entrance, and there are lots of pictures and maps of Australia, as well as lots of green and gold – the colors of Australia.
“To our surprise, the long-term investment between Italy and Australia really benefits us in hosting the Games,” said Alisa Camplin, Australia’s chief of mission. “It’s like we have a home away from home, like a little sanctuary where we can prepare and be great.”
Camplin, a former aerial skier, understands the needs of Olympic athletes. At the 2002 Olympics, she and short track speed skater Steven Bradbury won Australia’s first gold medal at the Winter Olympics. Four years later, Camplin also won a bronze medal in Turin.
“For us Australians this place is a haven from the other side of the world and it’s always good for us to be able to stop and enjoy the home care, home food and Australian feel wherever we travel in Europe,” Campling said.
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“With the green and gold magic everywhere, it might be a step up, but that’s the Olympics you want, you want it to be more special than anything you’ve experienced before.”
The AIS chose the location long before Italy was awarded the right to host the 2026 Olympics, but it turned out to be a happy coincidence.
“As a summer nation we will host Brisbane in 2032, which is the closest we will get to hosting a Winter Olympics because we don’t have the natural assets of snow and mountains to host a Winter Olympics,” de Jong added.
She said they looked at attractions in Spain and France before deciding on Italy “because of the beautiful weather, lovely welcoming people and delicious food.”
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While athletes do love Italian food, the cupboards are also stocked with family favorites such as Vegemite, a salty brown sauce beloved across Australia.
Even the coffee comes from Melbourne roasters, which is especially remarkable considering Italy is the country that supplies the world with espresso.
“It’s like a home away from home. We absolutely love it. You can grab some delicious pizza or some Vegemite from the cupboard. It’s the best of both worlds,” said aerial skier Danielle Scott, who is competing in her fourth competition in a bid for an elusive Olympic medal, adding to the three she has won at the world championships.
“What we went through during the World Cup tour… just to rejuvenate, work hard in the gym and relax by the beautiful lake, it was a really great place for us.”
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The picturesque town of Gavirat, with a population of less than 10,000, seems an incongruous place for Australia as its European base.
“I’m often asked why (here),” De Jong said with a laugh, before explaining that the two main reasons were its proximity to Milan’s main airport and its location on a lake that would help Australian athletes in equipment-intensive sports such as rowing and kayaking.
Another reason is that the province has been “very cooperative” and enthusiastic about the centre.
The athletes also received warm hugs from the locals. The ice cream parlor proudly displays signed shirts given by athletes, and the pizzeria sells Australian souvenirs.
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“I think the locals are a little excited about this place. So hopefully they’ll support us as well,” said cross-country skier Rosie Fordham.
Massimo Parola, the mayor of Gavilat, is very excited about Australia coming to his town and proudly declares: “Gavirat can now call itself an Olympic city.”
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
