Australian Government Announces $283 Million Investment In Olympic and Paralympic Sport

This morning, the Australian Government announced a $283 million investment in sports over the next two years, aiming to enable sustained success in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

Prime Minister The Hon Anthony Albanese and Minister for Sport, The Hon Anika Wells, alongside numerous athletes, including Olympic icon Cate Campbell, gathered at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra this morning for the announcement.

In addition to the ASC’s annual grant funding of $102.8 million and the provision of free support services and subsidised access to AIS facilities for national sporting organisations and high-performance athletes, this newly introduced investment brings the total investment in elite sport to $489 million over the forthcoming two years.

The $283 million injection will benefit athletes, coaches, and support staff during the initial phase of the four-year cycle leading up to the LA 2028 Games. It also encompasses the largest-ever Paralympic expenditure, aimed at addressing systemic barriers for para athletes, totalling $54.9 million in additional funding for para-sport initiatives, doubling the existing support. This additional funding will focus on improving classification opportunities, enhancing access to suitable training environments, and providing specialised coaching and performance support.

Furthermore, this historic investment will empower athletes, coaches, and staff to reach their maximum potential by offering:

– An allocation of $17.6 million over two years to the Direct Athlete Investment Support Grants (dAIS) program, specifically to alleviate the cost of living pressures.
– Additional training, well-being, and readiness support, including access to top-tier coaches and performance support personnel.
– Increased participation in both domestic and international competitions to ensure regular exposure to world-class competition in readiness for major sporting events.

Kieren Perkins OAM, CEO of ASC, hailed today’s declaration as a vote of confidence in Australian sport, elucidating, “Our Olympians and Paralympians are heading to Paris with the unprecedented support of this high-performance sport investment.”

He continued, emphasising the collaboration within Australian high performance sport and the shared commitment to ethical victory, stating, “We are particularly appreciative of the augmented investment in para-sport, which will diminish disparities and enable our para athletes to maximise their potential.”

Recognizing the government’s dedication to sport, Perkins concluded, “We extend our gratitude to the Australian Government for fostering a platform for athletes to triumph and inspire future generations of active Australians on the journey towards LA, Brisbane, and beyond.”

This announcement follows the Australian Government’s previous $249.7 million commitment to renovate the AIS campus in Canberra. The revitalisation aims to create a world-class high-performance sports training hub that will benefit Australian athletes and coaches for generations to come.