Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic Games are set to be extended ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games, with the Albanese government providing a record $513 million in high performance funding over the next two years.
The investment, which covers from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028, is an increase of 489 million dollars allocated in the previous round of funding and provides the certainty needed for national sports organizations entering the critical phase before the next Olympics and Paralympic Games.
The official announcement will be made in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Several senior sports figures, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the announcement in public, said they were very surprised by the size of the funding after they had privately planned on the possibility of budget cuts or a stalled position due to the economic situation.
Instead, the federal government has increased its commitment to elite sport as part of a wider strategy building towards the LA Games and the Brisbane Olympics and the 2032 Paralympics.
The $513 million package, to be administered through the Australian Sports Commission, will support 68 high-performance sports programs and develop direct athlete payments worth $42.8 million over two years to help elite athletes with living and training costs.
The funding will also continue the government’s Para Ulift program, which officials say has already identified more than 150 new athletes in its first year and helped establish specialized para-sport units in every state and territory.
A key focus of the investment is also to retain high-performing coaches and staff, an area sport has repeatedly identified as critical to the long-term success of Australian sport, while the Women Leaders in Sport program will receive two more years of support.
Winter sports are among the biggest beneficiaries, with Curling Australia, Biathlon Australia and Ice Racing Australia all set to receive high performance funding for the first time. Additional one-off grants will also be awarded to Netball Australia and Bowls Australia, as well as five winter sports before major international events.
Paralympic Australia will receive a direct grant of $2.4 million to help cover additional costs associated with the 2028 Paralympic Games.
The announcement comes as Australian athletes prepare for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and follows one of the country’s most successful Olympic and Paralympic cycles.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Australia recorded its highest ever gold medal total, winning 18 gold medals to surpass the previous mark of 17 achieved at the Athens 2004 and Tokyo 2020 Games. Australia won 16 gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Meanwhile, Australia produced its best ever Winter Olympic performance at this year’s Milano-Cortina Games, winning three gold medals and six medals overall. The win surpassed the previous record total of four medals at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
In December last year, the Australian Olympic Committee also announced a $50 million investment in athletes as part of the “Future Olympian Fund”.
In a statement, Sports Minister Anika Wells said: “The Albanese Government is proud to continue record levels of funding for Australian athletes as they build towards the Los Angeles 2028 Games, Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
“As our athletes head to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, this $513 million investment acknowledges the tenacity, commitment and passion our athletes bring to the world stage.”
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Tom Decent is the senior sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect through X or email address.
