Paralympics Australia Calls for Home Games Legacy Fund

Paralympics Australia has issued a strategic call to action for a dedicated legacy fund to support Australian Paralympians, following the Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) establishment of the Olympian Futures Fund.

The AOC’s fund, which totals $20 million and is made possible by legacy reserves from the Sydney 2000 Games, is designed to provide athlete retirement grants and career support, underpinning decades of financial security for the Olympic movement.

Congratulating the AOC, but used the announcement to highlight the financial disparity stemming from the original Sydney 2000 legacy, Paralympics Australia president, Grant Mizens OAM PLY, said: “Paralympians and the Paralympic Movement did not receive the same level of legacy investment.”

The focus is now firmly fixed on the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. Confirming the objective, Paralympics Australia president, Mizens, said: “As we work towards a home Paralympic Games in 2032, we are aspiring to secure a similar opportunity for Paralympians to benefit from a lasting legacy of a home Games that supports their wellbeing long after their sporting careers.”

The AOC’s new fund, which provides benefits like a $32,000 retirement grant per Games and a $10,000 Return to Olympic Sport Grant for mothers, serves as the benchmark for the support Paralympics Australia is seeking for its own athletes.

While acknowledging that resources for Paralympic sport are growing, the organisation recognises that significantly more work must be done to ensure its athletes are equally supported to reach their full potential, both in competition and post-career.

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