The quest for Australian Olympic glory has received a $513 million two-year ‘golden’ boost from the federal government.
The record financial support for athletes, and sports, will cover the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, 2030 French Winter Olympics and 2032 Brisbane games.
At a press conference in Brisbane last week, Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells says $42.8m will be spent on grants to help athletes with their daily living and training expenses.
“It means investing in 68 different sports programs; it means grants paid directly to athletes. It continues opportunities for current and future Para-athletes,” she says.
The record funding package includes:
- High-performance funding for 68 sport programs over two years.
- Continuing with $42.8m of direct athlete support grants.
- Record funding increases for winter sports with Curling Australia, Biathlon Australia, and Ice Racing Australia to receive funding for the first time.
- Extra one-off grants to Netball Australia, Bowls Australia and five sports ahead of the Commonwealth and Winter games.
QUEST FOR MORE MEDALS
Wells says the winter sports’ quest for more support was boosted by their performance at the recent games at Milano Cortina, Italy.
“It’s about this time two years ago that I stood at the (Australian Institute of Sport) AIS in Canberra to announce a 50% increase in funding …” she says.
“That investment paid off; Australia delivered its best-ever Winter Games (at Milano Cortina), 14th on the medal tally. Athletes will tell you … this funding helped make the difference.”
Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins says funding is vital in their quest for success at major overseas sports competitions.
“The reality is that the Australian sporting system is the envy of the world,” he says.
“Every time I travel overseas or talk to any of my counterparts globally,
they absolutely want to know how is it that Australia does so well.
“I reinforce the quality of the investment that comes from the Federal Government to enable all of our athletes to train in incredible facilities with amazing support staff and coaches.”
Paralympian Hani Watson (powerlifting) called the decision a “massive pat on the back” to the next generations coming through.
“To try and find a para bench in Australia was so incredibly hard. We now have a para bench in so many states and cities now,” she says.
“We now put assistant coaches part-time that help guide these athletes which we never had two, three years ago.”
Olympian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy says there can be no doubt the extra funding will be needed.
“The support, especially the funding; it’s imperative to our success, you know? It’s critical.”
AOC REACTION
Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman says the next six years is a critical period for them.
“High-performance outcomes are built over time … it takes at least six years of investment, planning and support to deliver results on the world stage,” he says.
Australia’s 2028 LA Olympics Chef de Mission, Anna Meares says the certainty provided by the funding news is vital.
“This level of investment gives our athletes, coaches and sports the certainty and confidence to plan, prepare and perform over the long term,” she says.
Australia’s team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, is in final preparations. The games will run from July 23 to August 2.
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