For the first time in history, every Olympian will be entitled to receive a USD 10,000 grant through the newly established Fit for the Future Olympian Grant. The initiative has been introduced to support athletes’ sporting careers or their transition beyond competitive sport. The first beneficiaries will be Olympians who competed at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
A total of USD 140 million per Olympiad has been allocated to the programme, as announced by IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Pau Gasol during the 146th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The grant is one of the first measures introduced under the IOC’s Fit for the Future strategic framework, which aims to develop new and complementary ways of supporting athletes throughout their sporting journeys and career transitions. Through this new fund, the IOC is delivering on that commitment.
“We have been discussing this for years, and I am incredibly proud that we are now in a position to make it happen,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
The grant is available exclusively to Olympians. Eligibility extends to all athletes who competed at the Olympic Games with an Aa accreditation, beginning with Milano Cortina 2026. Athletes who competed at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are not eligible.
All Olympians will qualify for the grant provided they have not committed an anti-doping rule violation or breached the IOC Code of Ethics, the Conditions of Participation, or the Olympic Charter.
The IOC will now develop the application and payment process, with applications for Milano Cortina 2026 expected to open later this year and the first payments scheduled for 2027.
The Fit for the Future Olympian Grant complements the IOC’s existing athlete support programmes. It is expected that around 14,000 Olympians per Olympiad will be eligible to receive the USD 10,000 grant for each edition of the Olympic Games in which they compete.
The grant will be administered through the existing structures of the National Olympic Committees. Should an eligible Olympian choose not to apply, the allocated funds will remain in the programme to benefit future Olympians. The new grant will not reduce or replace any existing support that the IOC provides to National Olympic Committees, International Federations, Organising Committees for the Olympic Games or Olympic Solidarity.
Announcing the initiative, Pau Gasol said: “This grant will be available to every Olympian. Not just medallists. Not just athletes from certain countries. Every Olympian. Because while every athlete’s journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage. Years of dedication. Years of hard work. Years of believing in a dream. This is not prize money. It is recognition of the journey and commitment it takes to become an Olympian. It is also about recognising that every Olympian is part of our Olympic community and honouring those who came before us and paved the way, so that current and future generations of Olympians can benefit.”
