WAIS high performance centre gets official opening

Elite athletes in Western Australia are set to begin training in Perth's new $34 million high-performance training centre, following its official opening this week by Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

The Western Australia Institute of Sport (WAIS) in the Mount Claremont sporting precinct provides a high-tech training venue for Olympic and Paralympic athletes training for next year's Olympic Games in Rio.

It includes training facilities for indoor pole vault and javelin throwing, as well as special recovery pools, weight training gym and a full range of exercise equipment.

Speaking while opening the facility, Premier Barnett stated “this is an extraordinary building with extraordinary facilities.

"There's about 300 of our top athletes across 28 sports who will be using this centre.

"If you look around this building, there would be nothing in Australia to rival it."

Premier Barnett said it would be invaluable for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and would also serve to build closer sporting ties with nation's in Asia, such as Singapore.

Western Australian Sports Minister Mia Davies said the opening of the high performance centre would provide world class training facilities for elite athletes, and inspiration for those involved in grassroots sport.

Minister Davies said the new centre was the culmination of three decades' work since the establishment of the WA Institute of Sport under the late Wally Foreman.

She explained "I think he would be extraordinarily proud of what was started 30 years ago to now - to see this fabulous, architecturally designed facility.

Minister Davies said she expected Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as coaches to begin training in the building over the next week, concluding “it's important that they're in and able to utilise these facilities as they're vying for their spots on both the Olympic and Paralympic teams.”

Unlike the centre's predecessor, which had only stairs, the new building is fully accessible to wheelchair athletes with a lift and ramps.

Main image shows WAIS athlete Liz Parnov.

16th March 2015 - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT GOES FOR GOLD