IOC Awards Every Olympian $10,000 Starting in 2026

The International Olympic Committee is giving every Olympian $10,000 for each Games they compete in, starting with athletes who competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The new "fit for the future Olympian grant" will help athletes during their sporting careers or as they transition to life after competition. With roughly 14,000 Olympians competing at each Games, the IOC is setting aside $140 million per Olympics to fund the program.

Athletes from the 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first eligible to apply. The application process opens at the end of this year, with payments starting in 2027.

The grant isn't prize money for winning medals. Instead, it recognizes the dedication required just to reach the Olympic stage, regardless of whether an athlete brings home gold or finishes last.

"While every athlete's journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage," said Pau Gasol, the three-time Olympic basketball medalist who now chairs the IOC's athletes' commission. "Years of dedication, years of hard work, years of believing in a dream."

Why This Inspires

This initiative marks a major shift in how the Olympic movement supports its athletes. For decades, many Olympians have struggled financially while training full-time for their sports, especially in less commercially popular events.

The grant will be delivered through National Olympic Committees and won't replace any existing support programs. Athletes who violate anti-doping rules or the Olympic code of ethics won't be eligible, maintaining the program's integrity.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry has opposed Olympic prize money in the past, but she believes the organization needs to "find more ways to directly impact athletes and help them on their journey." This grant answers that call while honoring every competitor equally.

The timing matters too. World Athletics made history at Paris 2024 by becoming the first international federation to award Olympic prize money, giving gold medalists $50,000. That program will expand to silver and bronze medalists at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Now the IOC is ensuring that every Olympian, not just the podium finishers, receives recognition for their achievement. Whether you're competing in track and field, curling, or table tennis, reaching the Olympics means you've already won.