- $5,000 grants for athletes competing in upcoming Commonwealth Games
- 30 Western Australian athletes to receive funding
- Cook Labor Government supporting improved athlete development and care
The Cook Labor Government is backing Western Australian athletes as they prepare to represent Australia on the world stage.
Western Australian athletes selected to compete at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will receive $5,000 in direct financial support to assist with their final preparations.
The funding recognises the significant commitment required to compete at the highest level, with many athletes balancing training, competition, study, work and everyday expenses.
The direct payment will help ease some of those pressures in the final lead-up to competition, allowing athletes to focus on preparation, recovery and performance.
Western Australia has a proud history at the Commonwealth Games, with WA athletes regularly delivering outstanding results for Australia.
Over the past 20 years, 73 Western Australians have represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games, winning a combined 101 medals, including 60 gold, 24 silver and 17 bronze.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 23 July to 2 August 2026, featuring both able-bodied and para-athletes.
Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Western Australia has produced some outstanding athletes, and we want to back them as they get ready to compete on the world stage.
"Reaching this level takes years of hard work, sacrifice and commitment, and this support is about making things a little easier in those final stages of preparation.
"We're proud to support our WA athletes so they can focus on competing, performing at their best and making WA proud."
As stated by Western Australian Institute of Sport Chair Dr Neale Fong:
"WAIS exists to enable WA athletes to achieve success on the international stage, and we are deeply appreciative of the State Government's continued investment in that ambition.
"For many athletes, financial pressures are a very real part of pursuing high performance sport, so this support makes a meaningful difference - helping ease the burden and allowing them to focus on preparing to perform at their best in Glasgow.
We look forward to seeing WA athletes represent our State with pride at the Commonwealth Games."
