Lausanne, Switzerland — The International Olympic Committee has announced one of the most significant athlete-support reforms in Olympic history, introducing a new USD 10,000 grant for every eligible Olympian beginning with the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The decision was confirmed during the IOC’s 146th Session in Lausanne, where members approved a series of reforms under the organisation’s “Fit for the Future” agenda. The new grant will be supported by a fund of USD 140 million per Olympiad and is designed to help athletes with their sporting careers or their transition after competition.
Unlike traditional prize money, the grant will not be limited to medal winners. It will be available to all eligible Olympians who meet the IOC’s conditions, including compliance with anti-doping rules, the IOC Code of Ethics, participation requirements and the Olympic Charter.
The move marks a historic shift for the Olympic movement, which has long avoided direct financial payments to athletes. Around 14,000 Olympians are expected to be eligible for the grant during each Olympic cycle.
IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Pau Gasol said the programme recognises the years of sacrifice required to reach the Olympic stage, stressing that the grant is intended for every Olympian, not only athletes who win medals or come from wealthy sporting systems.
The 146th Session also approved changes to the Olympic Charter, strengthening language around the political neutrality and independence of sport. IOC officials said the changes are intended to protect sport from political, economic and institutional pressure at a time of increasing global complexity.
The IOC also addressed the future structure of the Olympic sports programme, with reforms that will allow events and disciplines to be assessed more flexibly ahead of future Games, including Brisbane 2032.
For new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the Lausanne Session represents an early statement of direction: a more athlete-centred Olympic movement, stronger institutional independence, and a modernised Games model designed to remain relevant in a changing sporting world.
The announcement of the Olympian grant is likely to be remembered as the headline decision. For athletes who often spend years chasing qualification with limited financial security, the IOC’s new policy offers recognition beyond medals and signals a new era in the relationship between the Olympic movement and the competitors at its heart.
