The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new grant programme that will provide eligible Olympians with $10,000 (£7,600) for each Olympic Games in which they compete.
The initiative, known as the “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant”, is designed to support athletes during their sporting careers and help them transition into life after competition.
Under the programme, the IOC will set aside $140 million (£106.5 million) for each edition of the Olympic Games. Around 14,000 athletes are expected to qualify for the grant per Games, with competitors from this year’s Winter Olympics set to become the first beneficiaries.
The grant will be available to athletes competing at the Olympics with an Aa accreditation, but will not extend to participants in the Youth Olympic Games.
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Athletes found guilty of anti-doping violations or breaches of the IOC Code of Ethics, conditions of participation, or the Olympic Charter will not be eligible for the support.
The IOC said the grant would be distributed through existing National Olympic Committee (NOC) structures and would not affect any other support programmes already provided by the IOC, international federations, organising committees or Olympic Solidarity.
The programme is one of the first measures introduced under the IOC’s “Fit for the Future” framework, which aims to create additional support systems for athletes.
Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Pau Gasol, said the grant recognises the sacrifices athletes make to reach the Olympic stage.
“While every athlete’s journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage – years of dedication, years of hard work, years of believing in a dream,” Gasol said.
“This is not prize money. This is about recognising the journey and the commitment it takes to become an Olympian. And it is about recognising that every Olympian is part of our Olympic community, and honouring those who have come before us and paved the way, so that current and future generations of Olympians can benefit.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing discussions about financial support for Olympic athletes.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Athletics became the first international federation to award Olympic prize money, paying gold medallists $50,000 (£38,000). The scheme is set to expand to silver and bronze medallists at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, has previously expressed opposition to Olympic prize money but said the organisation must do more to support athletes.
“It has been a topic of conversation for many years, and I am extremely proud that we are now able to do this,” Coventry said.
The IOC plans to open applications for athletes who compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics before the end of this year, with the first payments expected to be made in 2027.
The programme could benefit athletes from around the world, including competitors from Nigeria and other African nations, many of whom rely on a combination of federation support, sponsorships and personal funding to pursue their Olympic ambitions.
