IOC launches $10,000 grant for all qualified Olympians

The International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday a new program that will provide a $10,000 grant to every athlete who qualifies for the Olympic Games, a significant shift for an organization that has long resisted direct payments to competitors. The "Fit for the Future Olympian Grant" program was unveiled during the IOC's 146th Session in Lausanne, Switzerland.

IOC Athletes' Commission Chair Pau Gasol presented the initiative, which has a projected budget of $140 million per four-year Olympiad. Gasol, a former Spanish basketball star, emphasized that the grant is not prize money tied to performance. He said it is intended to acknowledge the importance of being an Olympian and representing one's sport and country. The funds will be distributed through National Olympic Committees, and all athletes holding an "AA" Athlete Accreditation for a Games will be eligible.

The first recipients will be the nearly 2,900 athletes who competed at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics earlier this year. They will be able to apply once the application process is established. Approximately 14,000 athletes across each Summer and Winter Games cycle are expected to benefit, including...