IOC Creates $100M Fund for Athlete Grants After Games

The grants will first be available to nearly 2,900 athletes who took part in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. Roughly 11,000 athletes scheduled for the 2028 Summer Games can later apply for a total of about $110 million, provided they meet integrity rules such as passing doping tests.

An IOC member who also serves on the executive board presented the plan during a strategy session in Lausanne. The same member said athletes had repeatedly asked for more direct support both during and after their careers. The grants are not tied to continued competition and will be routed through national Olympic committees.

Within the Movement A track and field leader who also sits on the IOC called the announcement a historic moment for the Olympic movement. The current IOC president, a five-time Olympian, had previously stated that Olympic revenue should not fund prizes for top medalists.

The president acknowledged recent criticism of those earlier remarks but said the grant plan had been under development for longer than the public reaction suggested. Officials said the application process will use an existing online platform that assists athletes during and after their careers.

Several dozen athletes who earn substantial incomes from professional leagues will remain eligible under the same rules.