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Paralympics Australia commends the Australian Institute of Sport for its $35 million commitment to performance pathways, which will assist in converting more emerging Para-athletes into potential medal winners at future competitions, including the Paralympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

The funding will increase the capability of Paralympic Sport Pathways by helping sports formulate strategies for identifying, confirming and developing athletes. It will also enable sports to address strategic gaps and opportunities within the performance pathway, including support for coach development programs and system initiatives.

The funding will be directed to National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) through the AIS’s Performance Pathways Solutions grants and Pathways Workforce grants.

Para-sports to receive funding through these initiatives, either independently or part of whole-of-sport funding initiatives (able-bodied and Para-sport), include:

AIS Pathways Workforce Funding

  • Paralympics Australia
  • Athletics Australia
  • Cycling Australia
  • Swimming Australia
  • Table Tennis Australia
  • Rowing Australia
  • Snow Australia

AIS Pathways Solutions Funding

  • Paralympics Australia (Wheelchair Rugby)
  • Athletics Australia
  • Swimming Australia
  • Table Tennis Australia
  • Rowing Australia

Support will be provided to more Para-sport programs as the program evolves.

Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Lynne Anderson thanked the AIS for maintaining its focus on performance pathways in spite of obstacles during 2020.

“Providing resources now to develop athletes with potential to succeed beyond Tokyo is absolutely essential,” Anderson said.

“Given the enormous disruption to sport throughout this year, it would have been easy to fall into the trap of directing all our energy to what’s immediately in front of us. However, the AIS, under the leadership of Chief Executive Peter Conde, is continuing to invest in programs and initiatives that seek long-term success, which we strongly support and are grateful for.

“We have and will continue to support Para-specific applications across a range of Paralympic sports and assist with their implementation in a range of areas.

“The AIS’s Pathways investment will also help sports deliver programs to increase participation numbers. Eventually some of the athletes who become engaged through this investment will go on to represent Australia at the highest level, including at the Paralympics.”

Paralympics Australia echoes the AIS’s gratitude to the Australian Government for its overarching financial support of Para-sport and future Paralympians.

By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 21 December 2020