The Australian Government is backing high performing athletes across Mackellar by investing $50.6 million over the next two years to ensure Australia remains a world-leading sporting nation.
Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator Richard Colbeck and Federal Member for Mackellar, Jason Falinski MP said the Government is committed to helping Australia’s sporting sector impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There has never been a more important time to ensure our talented elite athletes and coaches are supported as they strive to reach their ultimate goals,” Mr Falinski said.
“This funding will support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches across Mackellar as they prepare for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and Paralympics, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
Minister Colbeck said with the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics likely to be the first major international sporting event to take place following the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian athletes are set to inspire the next generation.
He said the measure ensures core funding for our athletes and coaches is maintained at record levels and builds on the Morrison Government’s recent investments to support athlete wellbeing and pathways for young aspiring Olympians and Paralympians, including those across The Northern Beaches
“Sport Australia will distribute the high-performance grants to our national sporting organisations who will identify, train and develop their most promising athletes,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The Government is aware many national sporting organisations have had to stand down staff and reduce their hours because of COVID-19.
“Without this investment to high performance funding, there is a significant risk our best coaches and high-performance support staff will face an uncertain future.”
Additionally, as part of the previously announced $70 million Supporting Sport and Physical Activity election commitment, Minister Colbeck said more than $3.9 million will be brought forward to invest in five projects to improve infrastructure at high performance facilities across Australia.
It forms a part of the $11.5 million to support infrastructure upgrades at high-performance facilities.
“One of these recipients will be the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, which will receive $800,000 to improve training equipment available for aerial skiing and snowboarding,” Minister Colbeck said.
Other recipients include Swimming Australia which receives $725,000 to equip at least one pool in each state with the latest technology, including cameras and instrumented turning plates and Paddle Australia which will benefit from an allocation of $1.25 million to improve its high-performance facilities.
Minister Colbeck said the investments support the Australian Government’s Sport 2030 objective of backing our best athletes, coaches and sporting bodies to develop a high-performance culture.
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