The Paralympic Games are upon us, and the Albanese government announced medal incentives for winners ahead of the kickoff.
It’s been revealed that Australia’s Paralympians will receive up to $20,000 if they bring home a medal. There will be $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze compensation that matches the numbers awarded by the Australian Olympic Committee for its medal-winning athletes.
Paralympians have been hoping for this news, since it was implemented during the Tokyo Olympic games. They have received the good news with Sports Minister Anika Wells announcing these payments had been added to the record-breaking $54.9 million in funding allocated to the Paralympics in the 2024-2025 federal budget.
How Much Have Paralympians Been Paid Historically?
In 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during Question Time on ABC that the government would ensure equal compensation was awarded to Paralympians at the Tokyo Paralympics. Previously, Paralympians received no compensation from the government for gold medal wins, making them solely dependent on sponsorships for financial support while training.
Meanwhile, Olympians taken care of by the Australian Olympic Committee have received the traditional $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.
In 2021, two-time Paralympic medallist and goal baller Jodie Willis-Roberts called out this discrimination, saying in an interview with The ABC “These games are supposed to be built on equality and equity,:”Paralympics Australia absolutely agrees that our Paralympians deserve equity of recognition,” Paralympic Committee said in a statement.
“We’ve never had a funding program for Paralympic Games medallists as we just don’t have this funding available from grants or sponsorships.
“This is something we will look at again after the Tokyo Games.”
Cost of Living Crisis Effecting Paralympics
Compensation arrangements are great news for Paralympians, with the Paralympics Australia chef de mission Kate McLoughlin telling The Sydney Morning Herald that, given the many barriers to people with disabilities entering elite sport, additional funding and incentives were needed.
“There are a lot of barriers which you would argue increases the need for them to be recognised in the way Olympians are from a medal incentives perspective.” She added that many para-athletes were being impacted by the cost of living crisis and forced to work extra hours during their intensive training schedules to cover basic expenses.
She noted that para-athletes are already faced with higher baseline costs when training. Rentals require special access and often cost more, while specialist training is also required, “something an able-bodied athlete doesn’t have to deal with or even consider.”
Sports Minister Anika Wells said: “The Albanese government is thrilled to provide the nation’s Paralympians with the same financial incentives for winning medals at the Paris Games as our Olympic medalists – and I know all Australians will be too.”
Where To Watch The 2024 Paralympics:
Live streaming of the Paris 2024 Paralympics events and matches will be available on 9Now and Stan Sport. The Paris Paralympics will also be broadcast live on the 9Network TV channels. To start watching, users will need to add Stan Sport to their Stan subscriptions.
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This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
