Olympians to receive $10,000 grant from IOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is launching a new initiative to provide direct financial support to athletes, offering a grant of $10,000 to every participant in the Olympic Games. This marks the first time the IOC will implement such direct payments.

The program, named "Fit for the Future Olympian Grant," was announced during the 146th IOC session in Lausanne. The initial recipients will be athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in Milan and Cortina-d'Ampezzo. This grant is a component of the broader "Fit for the Future" strategy, designed to support athletes throughout their careers and into their post-athletic lives.

Significantly, the grant is not performance-based; all Olympians are eligible to receive the funds, not just medal winners. It is estimated that approximately 14,000 athletes will qualify for the grant in each Olympic cycle, with the payment being awarded for each participation in the Games. However, there are specific conditions. Only athletes with an "Aa" accreditation, starting from the 2026 Olympics, are eligible. Participants in Youth Olympic Games are excluded from this program.

Furthermore, a mandatory requirement is the absence of any violations of anti-doping rules, the Code of Ethics, or the Olympic Charter. As highlighted by IOC Athletes' Commission Chair Pau Gasol, the grant is intended not as prize money, but as a recognition of "each Olympian's journey and the efforts invested." The IOC is currently developing the application process, with submissions for the Milan-Cortina Games expected to open by the end of the year and the first payments anticipated in 2027.