Canberra, Dec 23 (UNI/Xinhua) The Australian Government has revealed the biggest investment in the country's high-performance sports programs in history ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Richard Colbeck, the Minister for Sport, on Wednesday announced that National Sporting Organizations (NSOs) will receive 257.5 million Australian dollars (185.6 million U.S. dollars) in funding for the period from July 1, 2022, through to December 2024.
It comes on the back of Australian athletes winning 17 gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics - equalling Athens 2004 for the country's best-ever haul.
"Our athletes inspired Australians everywhere with their efforts at the delayed Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, and through the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) this funding provides the perfect platform to perform in Paris," Colbeck said in a statement.
He said it will be the first time that sports have received funding certainty so far out from an Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"Through this commitment by the Federal Government and via a collaborative process with the AIS, sports are enabled to build their plans in advance for a full summer Games cycle, with funding right through until the end of 2024."
NSOs, including Football Australia, Baseball Australia and Basketball Australia, are responsible for developing athletes from community participation through to the elite level.
Previously NSOs have had to plan their budgets for Olympic and Paralympic games in 12-month cycles.
The government will announce how much funding each NSO will receive in January but Wednesday's announcement earmarked 1.9 million AUD (1.3 million USD) to help Australia's women's football team - the Matildas - prepare for the Paris Olympics after losing the bronze medal match in Tokyo.
It is in addition to 8.83 million AUD (6.3 million USD) over the next two years to support the Matildas in the lead-up to the home World Cup in 2023.
UNI/XINHUA GNK