June 24, 2026
All Olympians beginning with this year’s winter Games will receive a grant of US$10,000 under a new program set up by the International Olympic Committee.
Named “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant” the program of grants announced Wednesday by the IOC will be paid out of a fund of $140 million per Olympiad–both winter and summer Games each held every four years.
Paul Gasol, chair of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission announcing the program said the first grants will go to participants in the Milano Cortina Games held last winter. Payments will begin in 2027 when details are worked out.
About 14,000 Olympians per Olympiad are expected to be eligible for the grants to be issued through existing National Olympic Committee structures. The grants, the IOC said, “will not decrease or detract from already existing support” provided by the IOC to the NOCs, international sports federations, Olympic organizing committees or Olympic Solidarity.
“This grant will be available to every Olympian,” Paul Gasol said. “Not just medal winners. Not just athletes from certain countries. Every Olympian. Because, while every athlete’s journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage. Years of dedication. Years of hard work. Years of believing in a dream. This is not prize money. This is about recognizing the journey and the commitment it takes to become an Olympian. And it is about recognizing that every Olympian is part of our Olympic community, and honoring those who have come before us and paved the way, so that current and future generations of Olympians can benefit.”
Requirements are:
–All athletes who have participated in the Olympic Games with an Aa accreditation, starting from Milano Cortina 2026;
–Participants at Youth Olympic Games are not eligible, and
–Athletes who have committed an anti-doping rule violation or violated the IOC Code of Ethics, the Conditions of Participation or the Olympic charter also will not be eligible.
