IOC to pay Olympic athletes $10,000 support grants

The International Olympic Committee's plenary session decided in Lausanne that every athlete participating in the Olympic Games will receive a $10,000 support grant. The total support fund will be approximately $140 million per Games, and the decision will be applied retroactively, covering athletes who participated in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) plenary session in Lausanne has decided that all athletes participating in the Olympic Games will receive a $10,000 financial support grant. This is a significant step that will substantially improve the financial situation of Olympic athletes.

The IOC confirmed that each Olympic Games support fund will amount to approximately $140 million. The new support system will be implemented retroactively, meaning that athletes who participated in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics to be held later this year will also receive the grant.

Until now, Olympic athletes have received financial support primarily through national Olympic committees and sponsors, but direct payments from the IOC to each participant are unprecedented. This move responds to long-standing demands in the sports world to financially recognize athletes' contribution to the Olympic brand.