The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new USD $10,000 “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant”, making every athlete who competes at future Olympic Games eligible for financial support for the first time.
The initiative is designed to assist Olympians with either their ongoing sporting career or their transition beyond elite competition. The IOC has committed USD $140 million per Olympiad to fund the program, with athletes competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games set to be the first recipients.
Around 14,000 Olympians are expected to be eligible during each Olympic cycle. The grant will be administered through National Olympic Committees and is in addition to existing athlete support programs, with no reduction in current funding provided to National Olympic Committees, International Federations or Olympic Solidarity.
Announcing the initiative, IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Pau Gasol said the grant recognises the years of dedication and sacrifice required to become an Olympian, regardless of whether an athlete wins a medal.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry described the announcement as the culmination of many years of discussion, saying she was proud the IOC could now deliver the initiative.
The grant will be available to athletes accredited for the Olympic Games from Milano Cortina 2026 onwards, provided they have not committed anti-doping or ethics violations. Athletes who competed at the Youth Olympic Games are not eligible.
The IOC plans to open applications for Milano Cortina 2026 athletes later this year, with the first payments expected to be made during 2027.
Source: International Olympic Committee (IOC).
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