Support for Canberra Olympians and Paralympians

The ACT Government is backing Canberran Olympic and Paralympic athletes with extra funding.

The Paris Olympic Games are in July, and the Paralympic Games are in August this year.

The extra funding will help local athletes prepare to qualify to represent Australia in the lead up to the games. “The funding to me and the whole rowing team allows us to be the best we can be,” Olympic athlete Jack Cleary said.

“At the games, it is an absolute whirlwind, and we need to keep ourselves central and not worry about the things you can’t control. They are being managed by the staff who come along to help us – which this funding helps to support,” he said.

The ACT has a history of supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes. It was the first jurisdiction in Australia to fund the Olympic and Paralympic Teams equally.

Paralympic athlete Chad Perris says the timing of the funding is key.

“We have a lot of extra costs, whether travel, equipment, there are a lot of things that go into getting us over the line to get us to Paris,” he said.

“I’m really excited about this funding and to have it as equal funding with our Olympic counterparts is really exciting.”

“The Paralympic team funding from the ACT Government is huge,” Paralympic athlete Angela Ballard said.

“I know from behind the scenes how much it takes just to get our athletes over there and make sure we have the resources we need to perform.

“On a personal level, the ACT Government funding grants for individual ACT athletes will make a big difference. We still have a lot of work to do to keep up our training and to qualify between now and the Games, and this support will be of great help,” she said.

Canberra is home to elite athletes training at both the Australian Institute of Sport and ACT Academy of Sport. Despite being the smallest jurisdiction in Australia, ACT athletes have a strong presence at each Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The ACT Government will provide funding support through the Mid-Year Budget Review. This includes both direct financial assistance and in-kind training assistance through the ACT Academy of Sport.