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The Queensland Government is supporting the state’s athletes and parathletes at Paris 2024 with a $1.5 million donation to be split equally between the Australian Olympic Team and the Australian Paralympic Team.

Many of Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic Games hopefuls are currently competing in events around the world trying to qualify for the Games, with about 150 Queenslanders expected to make the combined teams.

Each Queensland athlete selected for Paris will also receive a $3,000 Athlete Bonus Grant through the Queensland Academy of Sport to support their final preparations.

Queensland-based athletes won 56 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including 13 Gold, 4 Silver and 11 Bronze at the Olympic Games, and 9 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze at the Paralympic Games.

Para-athletes from Queensland made up less than a quarter of the Australian Paralympic Team for Tokyo 2020, yet won more than half of Australia’s Gold medals.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the donation at celebrations marking one year to go until the Paris Games adding “there were no Queensland athletes at either 1900 or 1924 Paris Games so this is an historic occasion for our State and we want to make sure our athletes have all the support they need on the ground to reach their full potential.

“We have athletes like new world 10m platform diving gold medallist Cassiel Rousseau and 13-year-old Gold Coast XGames Skateboard Gold Medallist Chloe Covell who could be two of our big stars when Paris rolls around and when we get to Brisbane 2032..

“The Queensland Academy of Sport is supporting 575 Queensland and Australian athletes through partnership programs with 20 sporting organisations and has already identified 170 talented young athletes through the YouFor2032 program who will receive expert support.”

AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll notes “This money - $750,000 - will go directly to funding the Australian Olympic Team’s campaign in Paris. The Australian Olympic Team Appeal will continue right through to Paris – and this donation very much appreciated.

“We aim to give every athlete their best opportunity on their best day in Paris. To do that requires a high performance environment in the Olympic Village and subsites with the best possible medical care, recovery spaces, gymnasium, physiotherapy and other essential services.

“To Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk, thank you for the donation and also the extraordinary work done by the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) to support the development of high performance athletes."

Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan shared “This announcement by the Queensland Government places equal value on the performances of the Australian Paralympic and Olympic Teams and the impact they both make on the Australian community.

“On behalf of Paralympics Australia, I commend the Queensland Government for championing equality of opportunity for athletes aiming to reach their full potential in Paris next year, regardless of whether you are a Paralympian or Olympian. It sets a powerful standard for our ongoing appeal.”

Paris Olympic Games run from 26th July to 12th August 2024.
Paris Paralympic Games run from 28th August to 8th September 2024.

Image. Credit: Skate Australia

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