The International Olympic Committee has announced a new grant for athletes who take part in the Olympic Games. Each eligible athlete will be able to receive US$10,000, which is about NZ$17,000. The full grant pool is worth $248 million.
The IOC said the money is meant to support athletes in their long-term sporting careers or help them move into life after sport. However, not every athlete will qualify. Competitors who break anti-doping rules, the IOC code of ethics or the Olympic charter will not receive the payment.
Dame Valerie Adams, who chairs the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission, said the grant was “a start”. She said more could still be done, but the payment would help many athletes. Dame Valerie explained that Olympic sport can be very expensive, even though people sometimes imagine all professional athletes are wealthy.
She said athletes often train for years while also dealing with financial pressure. For some competitors, the grant may not change everything, but for many it could make a big difference. Dame Valerie also said athletes are expected to perform well for their countries, so they deserve support. The new grant shows the IOC is changing how it thinks about paying athletes.
SMART Prep | Quick Question 
