WA athletes heading to Paris 2024 Games given $1.35 million boost

• 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

As the world counts down to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Cook Government is providing $1.35 million to support Western Australian athletes who are heading to France as part of Team Australia.

The State Government funding being made available includes:

• $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.

Individual athletes will receive direct payments of $5,000 each. Information about eligibility criteria and distribution will be available through WAIS and its website: www.wais.org.au.

The 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in Paris, France from 26 July to 11 August and 28 August to 8 September 2024 respectively.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"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!"

Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:

"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."