The AIS is set to transform from a ghost town into a buzzing high performance hub as sports bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic en route to the Olympic Games.
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AIS chief executive Peter Conde says about 16 sports have locked in a collective total of 60 high performance camps at the Bruce campus between now and the end of the year.
It comes as high performance sports get a $54.5 million high performance funding boost from the federal government to assist with costs for rescheduled tournaments and secure staff.
The funding is a result of a three-point plan submission by the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia and Commonwealth Games Australia asking for assistance amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Conde says the cash injection is a "critical" boost to Australia's bid to win gold in Tokyo, with a raft of athletes now set to descend on Canberra to reignite their preparations for the postponed Games.
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"For many that's the case. We've got seven centres of excellence that operate out of the AIS year-round, and they're back training now at the AIS," Conde said.
"In the time since news has come through about the ability to train again, we've had over 60 high performance camps booked at the AIS between now and the end of 2020. There is very significant demand.
"Something like 60 camps over something like 16 sports have been booked this year."
With $50.6m allocated over two years, the funding injection which will assist in covering costs for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games, which were shifted to 2021 as the coronavirus outbreak worsened, through to the Beijing Winter Games and Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.
More than $3.9m will be directed towards supporting technology and innovation through key sporting infrastructure, including projects for Australia's swimmers, paddle and winter sport athletes. An infrastructure funding pool managed by the AIS will enable smaller sports to technology access.
AOC president John Coates says the funding will allow sporting organisations to secure the employment of high performance staff and support services.
"It's absolutely critical," Conde said.
"Athletes and the entire system need this funding in order to prepare to proudly represent Australia in all of these Games. This is massive.
"It has been very tough for many who are employed in the sector. A lot of people have been stood down over the period or had their hours reduced.
"Sport has been extremely responsible about how they've managed their funds over that period. The athletes and coaches have done a fantastic job of finding ways to continue to train under the constraints they've been under over the past few months.
"We've got a large number of dedicated athletes who really need this funding certainty as we head towards the Games next year and the Winter Games and Commonwealth Games in 2022.
"Getting this funding certainty in place, and for Richard Colbeck and the federal government to recognise the need for funding and respond in this way, it's massive for the athletes, coaches, support staff and the sporting organisations that support them."