Australia’s 2024 Paralympic campaign has received a substantial boost from the Western Australia Government, including direct support for WA athletes who are selected and targeted performance initiatives for athletes, coaches and support staff.
Premier Roger Cook announced $1.35 million in funding for the Australian Paralympic and Olympic Teams of which $750,000 will be split evenly. Every West Australian athlete selected will receive a $5000 grant to assist with preparations and another $333,250 was committed to the Western Australian Institute of Sport for specific programs.
Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin, on behalf of the Australian Paralympic Team, thanked the Cook Government for its generous assistance.
“Western Australia has a proud Paralympic history,” McLoughlin said.
“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.”
The WA Government’s pledge is consistent with other states and territories that have contributed funds equally between Paralympic and Olympic teams.
“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,” McLoughlin said.
“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.”
Premier Roger Cook said:
“The countdown is on to the Paris 2024 Games, and my Government is offering financial assistance to give Western Australian athletes the best chance of Olympic glory.
“Our direct payments to athletes give them control over how they use the $5000 to prepare for the Games and realise their dreams.
“We are also making significant contributions to the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia to ensure that both the team and individual WA athletes are strongly supported.
“We’re getting behind our WA athletes – let’s hope they bring home gold for Australia!”
Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman said:
“More than $1.3 million in Cook Government funding shows our strong support for WA athletes to represent Australia at major international events and we hope these grants assist recipient athletes to reach podium success at the Olympics and Paralympics in France this year.
“The pot of money also includes grants to support coaches and teams to tailor optimum training for athletes on the important journey to Paris.
“We thank WAIS for its role in distributing payments, as well as Paralympics Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee.”
Details:
Cook Government providing $1.35 million in support for Western Australian athletes to attend the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France
All WA athletes selected in either the national Olympic or Paralympic teams to receive $5,000 direct payment to assist with their preparations
Qualification and performance optimisation funding to support 10 Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) coaches and/or support staff
$750,000 contribution to the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia team appeals
$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 to WA athletes selected to the Australia team for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to assist with costs; and
$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.
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Date: 19 February 2024
