Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.
Minister for the Arts and Sport
Former Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts; Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate archived website
Minister for the Arts and Sport from 23 November 2001 to 30 January 2007
Direct financial support for 300+ elite Australian athletes
More than 300 of Australia's elite athletes from across 20 sports are the latest beneficiaries of direct government financial support, announced today by the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis.
Senator Brandis said these grants will assist athletes with the costs associated with training and preparation for international competition.
“This allocation of $4.2 million in direct funding to athletes is in addition to other Australian Government funding provided to athletes via their national sporting organisations,” Senator Brandis said.
Athletes receiving these grants are chosen because of medal potential in Olympic and Paralympic sports and in select high profile events including world championships, with individual allocations to athletes determined by the Australian Sports Commission in consultation with national sporting organisations (NSOs).
This allocation of $4.2 million comes from a pool of $14 million announced in the 2005/2006 Federal Budget.
In 2005/2006 $1 million was distributed to athletes whose sports were not involved in the 2006 Commonwealth Games and a further $4.3 million and $4.5 million will be distributed to athletes in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 financial years respectively.
Australian Sports Commission Chairman, Peter Bartels, said financial investment of this nature made by the Australian Government, by NSOs and by organisations like the Australian Olympic Committee give elite athletes a secure platform to compete for their country at the highest level.
Media contact: Travis Bell 0448 950 248
10/07
Wednesday, 21 February 2007