SYDNEY, (Reuters) – An extra 109 elite Australian athletes will receive government support in the run-up to next year’s London Olympics after funding was increased by A$3 million ($3.2 million), sports minister Mark Arbib said yesterday.
The increase takes the total funding for the government’s Direct Athlete Support scheme to A$7.43 million a year and will ensure that 665 athletes across 30 sports will be supported.
“We think this is a fantastic result for our athletes,” Arbib told reporters on a visit to the New South Wales Institute of Sport.
“It is something we are very proud of and will go a long way to assisting our athletes on their way to London and other world championship events. “We know international sport is only getting tougher, and what we are seeing when we travel overseas is other countries are investing more and more in their teams and also their training facilities and sports science,” he added.
“There is no doubt about it, world class sport is becoming more and more competitive and the Australian government wants to ensure our athletes are the best prepared.”
In last year’s budget, the government announced spending of A$324.8 million over four years — including $195.2 million in new funding — of which $237 million was for elite sports.
Athletes who are ranked in the top four in the world in their sport receive A$13,000-21,000 a year, while those in the top 10 get $10,000 per annum.
Funding is also available to some disabled athletes preparing for the Paralympics, which also take place in London next year.