- Government provides $1.5 million donation to help Queensland Olympians and Paralympians heading to Paris 2024;
- Kicks off the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Team Appeal;
- Marks One Year to Go to Paris Games
The Queensland Government is helping Queensland athletes and parathletes have the best shot at success at Paris 2024 with a $1.5 million donation towards the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Team Appeal.
The donation will 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.
The Premier announced the donation at celbrations marking one year to go until the Paris Games.
Quote attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:
"All Australians wish our Olympians and Paralympians the best of luck in Paris next year.
"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."
Quote attributable to AOC Chief executive Officer Matt Carroll:
"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."
Quote attributable to Paralympics Australia President Jock O'Callaghan:
"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 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Paris Olympic Games run from 26 July to 12 August 2024
- Paris Paralympic Games run from 28 August to 8 September 2024
- 26 July 2023 marks one year until the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
- The Appeal is being run by the Queensland Olympic Council on behalf of the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia.
