Grants for WA’s Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls to head to Paris 2024 Games
As the world counts down to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, more than $1.3 million in State Government funding is being made available to help Western Australian athletes who are heading to France for Team Australia.
The Minister for Sport and Recreation has approved the following funding amounts to be provided through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries:
- $333,250 via the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) for athlete qualification and performance optimisation initiatives involving athletes, coaches and support staff
- $270,000 for direct payments by WAIS to athletes to assist with costs associated with selection to the Australia team for the Paris 2024 Games.
- $750,000 to be distributed to the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Team Appeal, with $375,000 to go to the Australian Olympic Committee; and $375,000 to Paralympics Australia.
Individual athletes will receive direct payments of $5000 each. Information about eligibility criteria and distribution will be available through WAIS.
The 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in Paris, France from 26 July to 11 August and 28 August to 8 September 2024 respectively.
Comments attributed to world champion pole vaulter Nina Kennedy from Busselton who represented Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games:
“It's awesome to have the support of the State Government for Paris 2024. I was grateful to receive one of these grants for Tokyo 2020 and I know firsthand how appreciative Western Australia athletes are that this support is continuing.
“Grants of $5,000 will help to cover costs associated with travel to France, and helps Olympians and Paralympians focus on doing what we need to do – which is to perform to the best of our abilities.”
Comments attributed to Western Australian Institute of Sport, Chair Dr Neale Fong:
“WAIS’ purpose is to enable Western Australian athletes to achieve international sporting success, and we are incredibly grateful to the State Government for the substantial commitment it is making to Olympic and Paralympic athletes in achieving this outcome.
“This support, in addition to the ongoing and longstanding commitment to WAIS by the State Government, ensures that Western Australian athletes are provided every opportunity to perform on the world stage and we look forward to celebrating the achievement of WA Athletes in Paris.”
Comments attributed to the Australian Olympic Committee, Anna Meares OAM OLY, Chef de Mission:
“Thank you to the Western Australian government for supporting our athletes to realise their Olympic dream in Paris.
“Our goal is to give Australian athletes the best opportunity to perform on their biggest day in Paris.
“This means creating a high-performance environment for the Australian Olympic Team in Paris, finding those small one-percenters that can help make a difference, with the best medical care, recovery spaces, physiotherapy, and other essential services.
“This will make a real difference for Australian athletes as they excite and inspire the nation in less than six months’ time.”
Comments attributed to Paralympics Australia, Kate McLoughlin, Chef de Mission:
“On behalf of our elite Para-athletes striving to compete at the Paralympic Games in August, I want to thank the Western Australia Government for this important investment in our campaign and direct support for local athletes upon their selection.
“Western Australia has a proud Paralympic history. In fact, the origin of the Australian Paralympic Movement can be traced back to Perth in the 1950s.
“At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Western Australia equalled its highest representation on the Australian Paralympic Team with 24 athletes and this investment will assist with the strong representation anticipated for Paris 2024.
“Delivering an Australian Team of some 170 athletes, along with coaches, team managers, carers, medical experts, and Paralympics Australia operational staff is an enormous undertaking and there are, of course, substantial costs involved.
“Providing our Paralympians equal support to our Olympic colleagues is proof of the WA Government’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, and belief in the power of sport to create meaningful change.