New era for Australian Institute of Sport

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is beginning a long overdue process to re-invent itself after years of criticism about athlete performances on the international stage.

It is understood the changes will affect areas like biomechanics and physiology with more than 40 jobs to be affected.

The AIS plans to introduce new performance criteria to measure success, with consistently winning medals at major international events as their main objective.

The new performance criteria to measure success includes Australia being a top five to 10 nation at the Olympic Games, and top one to two at the Commonwealth Games.

In a statement to the ABC a spokesman for the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) said the changes were part of broader measures being implemented at a federal government level.

“The ASC and AIS is progressing with work to ensure we provide world-class leadership and support that best serves the future needs of Australian sport,” he said.

“This is being done in alignment with the development of a National Sport Plan.

In 2016 the AIS was labelled by former Australian Olympic Committee media director Mike Tancred as “deserted” and a “ghost town”.