Volleyball Australia receives additional Olympic Preparation Funding
Volleyball Australia has been announced today as one of 26 national sporting organisations which will benefit the Australian Sports Commission’s second stream of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Preparation Fund.
“Australia is about to field three men’s and one women’s team at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Mexico, our highest representation at a major international event since Sydney 2000,” said Andrew Dee, Volleyball Australia CEO.
“Funds from this second stream of the Olympic and Paralympic Preparation Fund will go directly towards helping our athletes attempt to qualify for Paris, and also earn high seedings which history proves is extremely beneficial to overall performance at the Games.
“The Australian Government and Australian Sports Commission’s investment in our sport recognises that qualifying for an Olympic Games requires meticulous planning and preparation, and in our country’s case, plenty of long-haul international travel for athletes and support staff.
“As we move towards the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Mexico in two weeks time, and the Paris qualification period which continues through the first half of 2024, this stream of funding greatly assists setting up our athletes for the best chance of success.”
Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, announced the successful recipients while visiting the athlete’s village in Paris less than a year out from the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“This is an important step on our path towards building the best sporting system in the world by Brisbane 2032,” Minister Wells said. “This critical second stream of the Paris 2024 Preparation Fund sees dozens of projects brought to life including game changing initiatives such as custom chairs for our wheelchair rugby team.
“For many sports, the Paris 2024 Preparation Fund unlocks the one-percenters and for others, it opens the door to new Olympic and Paralympic aspirations.
“Underpinned by the Win Well pledge, it is about elevating the chances of Australians getting to the Paris starting line, achieving a personal best, or reaching the podium and, ultimately, delivering results that make Australia proud.”
The majority of the funding will support sports to deliver critical pre-Paris training camps and ensure essential performance support staff are on hand to assist the athletes directly, while several projects will also help sports make critical small gains in their Olympic and Paralympic competition.
More than 40 per cent of the funding is going to Paralympic projects with sports such as boccia bolstering their coaching support and exposure to international competition.
Para sports like triathlon, equestrian and rowing will also benefit from new equipment and additional biomechanical support.
Australian Sports Commission (ASC) CEO Kieren Perkins OAM expects the projects to have a significant impact.
“We are delighted to be able to support our sports and athletes with this targeted funding which is set to make a tangible difference to so many people,” Mr Perkins said. “Our athletes have made extraordinary sacrifices to get to where they are, and hopefully this additional funding support will help take them to the next level.
“I’d like to once again thank the Australian Government and Minister Wells for allowing the Australian Sports Commission to work closely with our sports to ensure these extra funds gets to the Olympians and Paralympians who need it most as we enter the final stage of preparations before Paris.”
Stream Two of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Preparation Fund was a competitive grant program with eligible high performance sports applying for additional funding to enhance their existing and/or new priority campaigns for Paris 2024.
