New National High Performance Training Centre announced at AUT Millennium Campus
An exciting new National Training Centre for high performance sport which is at the core of the Government’s sports strategy was announced today by Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully.
Described by Mr Key as the “biggest boost ever for New Zealand high performance sport”, the plans consist of a newly established High Performance Institute and a $40M investment into a new high performance national training centre that will be based at the current Millennium Institute on Auckland’s North Shore, which is run by the AUT Millennium Trust - a 50/50 partnership between AUT University and the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health (MISH).
The new national training centre will bring together the best of sports research, coaching and management expertise from AUT University, Millennium Institute of Sport and Health and the NZ Academy of Sport, with the goal of producing more world-class sporting champions, says MISH CEO Mike Stanley.
“The centre will be a multi-disciplinary centre of excellence fully committed to propelling our next generation of athletes onto a world stage. It will help drive the development of high performance sport in New Zealand through education, research and coaching.”
“AUT University leads research across some of the most dynamic fields, especially in the field of sports science and human performance, while MISH is a well established provider of excellent sporting facilities and coaching services. Bringing AUT and MISH expertise together will greatly enhance our contribution to elite sport,” Stanley says.
The Minister of Sport and Recreation also announced $15M funding for the national training centre, complementing AUT’s previous $18M investment to form the partnership with MISH. AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack said the Government support was a significant boost for taking high performance sport to the next level in New Zealand.
“While New Zealand is renowned as a great sporting nation, performing extraordinarily well on passion, natural ability and pride alone is simply not enough for developing future athletes - the focus has to be on unlocking human potential through leading science and innovation,” says McCormack.
“The weight of AUT’s sport research and scientific expertise will sit behind our athletes and beside their coaches and managers, ensuring that solutions to their training, medical, nutritional, technical and performance needs are informed by the latest research and knowledge available.”
The new national training centre is one of several high performance sporting facilities receiving a boost from Government. Others include the QEII Centre in Christchurch, a rowing and canoeing centre at Lake Karapiro; a centre for sailing, triathlon and ocean kayaking in Takapuna and a new high performance centre for Bike NZ.
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Note to Editors:
A National Training Centre for Champions in the Making
For eight years, the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health has been a recognised national centre of excellence for high performance sport. AUT University is also a recognised leader in sports science and research. This alliance has since culminated in a successful training ground of champions poised to enter an exciting new growth phase with the announcement of a new high performance national training centre based at the Millennium Institute on Auckland’s North Shore.
The Background
Millennium Institute of Sport and Health
In 2002, the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health was established based upon the vision and donations from Graeme Avery and Stephen Tindall. It quickly became a magnet for high performance sport, providing top facilities for local sports clubs. These facilities included an Olympic sized swimming pool and learner’s pool, an international standard track and field oval, a combined public gym and athlete strength and conditioning centre, a medical centre, on-site accommodation and catering and conference facilities.
In 2006 the New Zealand Academy of Sport (North Island) moved its base to the Millennium Institute, providing full athlete support services and operations for New Zealand’s leading athletes.
In 2008, AUT University invested $18M in the Millennium Institute to form a 50/50 partnership called AUT Millennium Ownership Trust. This opened the door for the facility to cater to the academic and research needs of high performance sport, as well as the practical needs of preparing our best athletes.
As a co-partner in AUT Millennium Ownership Trust, the Millennium Institute provides full training, medical, dietary and sports science facilities.
AUT University
AUT University is a contemporary university with a solid track record in teaching and research. It is renowned for strong industry connections and employment outcomes both in New Zealand and internationally. AUT leads research across some of the most dynamic fields, including the development of specialist expertise in the field of sports science and human performance.
With a multi-disciplinary approach, research is conducted in biomechanics, exercise physiology, anthropometry, physical conditioning, sports psychology, epidemiology and sports nutrition to enable development in high performance sport right across the spectrum.
As a co-partner in AUT Millennium Ownership Trust, AUT University brings together the best of sports research, coaching and management expertise and to help drive the development of high performance sport in New Zealand through innovative teaching programmes and research.
The Rationale
According to Millennium Institute of Sport and Health CEO Mike Stanley, the Institute is already operating at capacity and yet the need to provide superior facilities for athletes and coaches has never been greater. This position is also echoed by Derek McCormack, Vice-Chancellor of AUT University, who says that while New Zealand is renowned as great sporting nation, performing extraordinarily well on passion, natural ability and pride alone will simply not be enough for developing future athletes.
Subsequently - with support from the New Zealand government – this has led to the creation of a new high performance national training centre, which is a vital step for ongoing and greater sporting success for New Zealanders. It also signals that New Zealand, like our international counterparts, is committed to developing sporting excellence through cutting edge scientific knowledge of the human body and mind and by scientific measurement and analysis of athletic performance.
The new national training centre will take high performance sport in New Zealand to the next level, giving our most promising athletes access to world class facilities and support so they can continue to excel on a world stage.
The Vision
Formed with funding from government, AUT University and other key business partners, the new national training centre is at the core of a national sport strategy where the focus is to unlock human potential through science and innovation. It will be a multi-disciplinary centre of excellence fully committed to propelling our next generation of athletes onto a world stage.
The high performance training centre will be a training ground for champions in the lead-up to the 2010 Olympic Games in London and other significant sporting events into the future. It will provide our best athletes, coaches, training specialists and scientists a dedicated world class training, testing and research facility spread across two levels. The additions will nearly double current floor space – these will include the creation of a high performance zone to complement existing facilities, containing:
- Sport Science centre for anthropometry, biomechanics, exercise physiology, hormone, nutrition
- Environmental chamber
- Strength and conditioning centre
- Recovery and rehabilitation centre
- Athlete Life Centre (lounge/study)
Other facilities include:
- Expanded medical and specialist facilities
- Significant additional office, education and meeting facilities
- New public health and fitness centre
- Additional accommodation
- 50 x 25m Olympic swimming pool
Construction is planned to start in November, with the first facilities available in September 2011, in time for athletes preparing for the London Olympic Games.