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Aligned with prioritising the delivery of sustainable success at multi-sport pinnacle events, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has announced a boost in high performance funding for Olympic and Paralympic national sporting organisations (NSOs), with increased allocations to Rugby 7s, Football, Paralympics and Surfing.

This critical funding also provides 34 NSOs with much-needed certainty as they re-set for the Tokyo Games in 2021 and follows the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a $50.6million investment over two years towards high performance sport.

As part of this funding, Rugby Australia ($2.2million), seven Paralympic sports ($1.5million to Archery, Men’s Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Wheelchair Rugby, Triathlon, Shooting and Canoeing), Football (men’s $0.4million) and Surfing ($0.2million) will receive one-off increases in line with the AIS investment model. Funding for 2020/21 has been maintained to all remaining sports at current levels.

The AIS Investment framework is focused on funding for international podium results and to prioritise delivering sustainable success at multi-sport pinnacle events, the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.

Chair of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) John Wylie said NSOs need the best chance of achieving medal success come 2021 and this investment is critical to providing the platform to do so.

Wylie advises “Sports continue to feel the impact of COVID-19 however this funding will allow sports to plan with certainty and get ready for what I am sure will be an exciting and competitive Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“More than ever, Australians are turning to sport to lift spirits and I have no doubt our high-performance athletes will play a key role in our country’s recovery from this pandemic.”

“I would like to acknowledge the Federal Government and thank Minister for Sport Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck for his support of Australia’s high-performance athletes and system.”

AIS Chief Executive, Peter Conde said in order to work towards the AIS goal of multiple medallists over multiple Games cycles, sports require certainty to compete at the highest levels. 

Conde adds “this is the first Olympics for surfing and the first time in 12 years that the Olyroos have qualified for the Games, so this funding allows these sports to confidently prepare and get ready to show the world just what they can do.

“We will also be hoping that through this support the Australian Rugby 7s deliver a repeat of the gold medal success our women's team experienced in Rio.

“It is through investments like this, along with additional support the AIS provides through wellbeing, workforce support and technology and innovation, that we see high performance sport inspiring both future competitors and the wider Australian community."

Commonwealth Games-only NSOs (Netball, Bowls and Squash) and Winter Sport NSOs (OWIA and Snow Australia) high performance grants have also been confirmed through to 2022 to provide certainty in their preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Image: Rio 2016 Paralympic Games: Courtesy of Paralympics Australia 

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