Skate Australia’s medal hopes at the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been given a boost with the Australian Sport Commission (ASC) and Australian Government today announcing a record investment into sport.
Skate Australia has been included as a beneficiary of the $385 million Win Well and Play Well funding that is being invested into 70 sports over the next 18 months, ensuring Australians have world class pathways and support at all levels of sport, from participation to high performance.
This is the first time the ASC has allocated funding that stretches from the playground to the podium, building on the success of the sector-wide High Performance (Win Well) and Participation (Play Well) strategies.
Skate Australia’s Chair Dr Phil Hamdorf said the funding announcement was a welcome financial injection for a sport that continues to grow at an exceptional rate across diverse age groups within the Australian community.
“We are hugely grateful to the ASC and Australian Government for this additional funding which will provide critical preparation and training opportunities for our high performance programs that otherwise would not be possible, while also enabling us to continue to grow our pathway opportunities.”
Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells said, “This is a record funding package for Australian sport, so they can take full advantage of the generational opportunity between now and Brisbane 2032.
“Our record $385 million investment in high performance sport over the next 18 months, which includes a doubling of investment in Para sport, will enable our athletes to win well on the road to Los Angeles while also encouraging more Australians to play sport.
“We are creating more opportunities for more athletes by increasing the number of sports we support from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs.
“It’s important that our kids and community sporting champions experience the same level of opportunity, and I welcome the Play Well funding goal to create a safe, fair and sustainable sport system that grows participation and nurtures tomorrow’s champions.”
Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said: “The remaining eight years until Brisbane 2032 is our chance to unite and inspire Australia through sport.
“The Play Well and Win Well funding announced today lays the foundation to do just that. We will be supporting more Australians to enjoy their sport than ever before, from those in grassroots to our Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth Games athletes making us proud on the world stage.
“I would like to thank the Australian Government for their vision and ongoing support to allow all Australians to both play well and win well.”
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