The Australian women’s soccer team means serious business when it comes to Ballarat. But business will be mixed with a big sense of celebration.

The Matildas announced this week that Ballarat, yes out city, would be their final training camp on home soil on their road to Rio.

Matildas coach Alen Stajcic is convinced his players believe they are “a real force on the world stage” after climbing to a FIFA-best world ranking of fifth earlier this year. The Matildas launched their Olympic qualifying run with a 3-1 win against World Cup finalists Japan in February. Stajcic has said this stems from the confidence generated in powering to the World Cup quarter-finals in Canada last year, having rattled the United States in the first half of the play-off match.

Now they want Olympic medal proof they are one of the best women’s teams in their football code. This is cause for celebration to wave the Matildas off on what they have achieved and the potential for what they can serve up next.

This is how they will arrive in Ballarat.

Why choose Ballarat as the place to leave-off?

Polishing off preparations in Ballarat is no coincidence. We have a reputation.

The Matildas will play their final pre-departure game against New Zealand in an Etihad Stadium double-header to the Socceroos’ friendly against Greece – with Melbourne’s Greek population, you know that will create an epic atmosphere.

Ballarat offers world-class facilities little more than an hour’s commute from the state’s capital where the Matildas can prepare rather unassumingly.

Bahrain’s international men’s football team chose Ballarat for its base to warm-up and host a friendly against Jordan before last year’s Asian Cup in Australia. The Bahraini, whose officials included a sheikh, enjoyed the welcoming, relaxed vibe about Ballarat. And they liked the fact they could get down to serious training business on top facilities at Morshead Park. 

This is what Ballarat offers the Matildas.

On top of that is a chance to tap into a wider regional supporter base where their football code has a strong grassroots culture. 

Choosing Ballarat reinforces this city’s position as a serious alternate option to Melbourne for elite sport.

Western Bulldogs are realising this by committing to bring AFL premiership season matches to Ballarat from next year. Australian Opals, our national women’s basketball team, have camped here and, last year, played a final international friendly against Japan here before their Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand.

On an increasingly competitive landscape for elite sport, jostling for attention, Ballarat and western Victoria has so much to offer elite teams in our ferocious appetite for sport.

This is business for us, hosting the Matildas and New Zealand Football Ferns, getting it right on the tourism and sporting fronts.

But the Matildas visit is also time for us to celebrate what we do best – setting the stage for an awesome show.