IOC breaks with 130 years of tradition by paying athletes to compete at Olympics

The Guardian Sport Wednesday 24 June 2026, 16:22 UTC By Sean Ingle 1 min read

Key Points

IOC sets up £106m fund to pay grant to every athleteMilano-Cortina competitors will be first to be paidThe International Olympic Committee has broken with 130 years of tradition by deciding to pay athletes to compete at the Olympic Games. The IOC revealed on Wednesday it had set up a $140m (£106m) fund that would pay a “fit for the future” grant of $10,000 to every athlete who competes in a Summer or Winter Games, starting with the 3,000 who took part in Milano-Cortina. The grant will then...

IOC sets up £106m fund to pay grant to every athlete
Milano-Cortina competitors will be first to be paid

The International Olympic Committee has broken with 130 years of tradition by deciding to pay athletes to compete at the Olympic Games. The IOC revealed on Wednesday it had set up a $140m (£106m) fund that would pay a “fit for the future” grant of $10,000 to every athlete who competes in a Summer or Winter Games, starting with the 3,000 who took part in Milano-Cortina.

The grant will then be paid to the 11,000 athletes at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 and for all future Olympics.

IOC (ORG) Olympics IOC (LOCATION) paidThe International Olympic Committee (ORG) the Olympic Games (EVENT) Winter Games (EVENT) Milano-Cortina (ORG) the Los Angeles Games (ORG) Olympics (EVENT)

Originally published by The Guardian Sport Read original →

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