IOC creates $140M fund to provide $10k grant to every Olympian

Field Level Media|published: 06/24/2026, 10:17pm EDT

Feb 19, 2026; Bormio, Italy; A general view of the Olympic rings during the medal ceremony for men's ski mountaineering during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Stelvio Ski Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Olympic athletes will now be provided money to support their athletic careers by an International Olympic Committee grant, starting with athletes who competed at the most recent Milan Cortina Winter Games, the IOC announced on Wednesday.

Every competing athlete will be eligible for a $10,000 "Fit for the Future Olympian Grant," which will be drawn from a $140 million fund set aside for the purpose of supporting athletes.

"It has been a topic of conversation for many years, and I am extremely proud that we are now able to do this," IOC president Kirsty Coventry said.

The "Fit for the Future" initiative will take a holistic approach to supporting athletes in new and complementary ways, from enabling them to pursue their athletic goals to assisting with career transitions.

Athletes who participate in the Olympics, starting with Milan Cortina, will be eligible, provided they haven't committed any rules infractions, such as doping or violating the IOC's code of ethics, conditions of participation or the Olympic Charter.

Athletes from the recent Games can enter an application process, expected to begin later in 2026, with payments expected to begin in 2027.

Approximately 14,000 Olympians per Olympiad are expected to be eligible for the grant going forward.

--Field Level Media