IOC Launches $140 Million Grant Program to Pay Olympic Athletes Directly
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced the 'Fit for the Future Olympian Grant,' a historic program providing a direct payment of $10,000 to every eligible athlete participating in the Olympic Games. Starting with the 2,900 athletes from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and extending to the estimated 11,000 athletes at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, the total fund amounts to $140 million per Olympic cycle. The grant recognizes athletes' participation rather than performance, excludes Paralympians, and marks the first time the IOC will pay competitors directly.