AIS Delivers Funding Boost to John Langley Hancock Building at the NSTC

The Australian Government and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have delivered a big boost to 11 National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), awarding more than $1.15m for sporting infrastructure projects around the country.

Following a record medal haul at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Snow Australia is one of the 11 sports set to benefit from the latest round of the AIS’s $2.5 million Small NSO Infrastructure Grant program.

The grant to Snow Australia will fund new gym equipment and infrastructure at the John Langley Hancock Building at the National Snowsports Training Centre in Jindabyne. 

Sports Minister Richard Colbeck says the targeted grants program is about ensuring all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports had the opportunity to grow.

“This program is aimed at some sports with smaller AIS-funding budgets, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have big aspirations to grow and take on the world’s best,” Minister Colbeck says.

“We saw recently how Australia’s Winter Olympic team collected a record four medals in Beijing. Skate Australia and Surfing Australia got medals in their Olympic debuts in Tokyo last year. These are sports that are going to benefit from this grants program.

“With these latest grants, the AIS Small NSO Infrastructure Grant program has now committed more than $2.1million to 20 National Sporting Organisations.”

AIS Director Sport Strategy and Investment Alex Newton says the Small NSO Infrastructure Grant is an example of how AIS funding meets the unique needs of sports.

“Supported by the Australian Government, the AIS recently committed $257m in long-term funding to Olympic and Paralympic sports in preparation for the 2024 Paris Games. That gives sports greater clarity and certainty to plan ahead. In addition, initiatives like the AIS Small NSO Infrastructure Grant program give us the opportunity to consult with sports to identify targeted projects that will build their high performance sporting environments. We have been delighted with the projects we have been able to fund so far, and with one grant round left in April, we encourage any small NSO who has an infrastructure project to get in touch with us.”

Fresh from a record medal haul for Australia at the Beijing Winter Olympics, CEO of Snow Australia, Michael Kennedy, says the grant will help to equip the gym at the upgraded National Snowsports Training Centre (NSTC) in Jindabyne. The total $11.5million NSTC project is underway and includes an airbag jump, strength & conditioning facilities, sports science and a learning hub for athletes. It is funded in partnership between the NSW Government, Snow Australia and philanthropist John Hancock.

“With the project now underway, Snow Australia is delighted to receive support from the AIS by way of a funding grant for key high performance infrastructure components for the NSTC Building,” Kennedy says. “The funding will deliver specialised high performance flooring throughout the high performance spaces in the building along with funding to purchase new gym equipment to fit out the expanded gym space. We are grateful for the support of the AIS at this critical initial stage of the project development and look forward to a great partnership from an NSTC perspective for many years to come.”