With just over a year to go until the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games, the investment is recognition of the hard work of Australia’s high performance athletes, coaches and support staff, along with the efforts of the ASC and AIS in assisting national sporting organisations (NSOs) in particular through the challenges of COVID-19.

With $50.6m allocated over two years, the funding enables the AIS to maintain baseline support for NSOs, thereby providing certainty for Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, and athletes looking toward the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

ASC Chair John Wylie said the additional investment is a huge boost for Australia’s high performance system.

“No sector has been immune to fallout as a result of COVID-19 but our Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports have been doing it really tough,” Wylie said.

“I’d like to thank Minister Colbeck and the Federal Government for the strong support through this and a range of other measures.

“I am also incredibly proud of the work our own team has been doing day in-day out, together with our sport partners to work through these challenging times.  This is fantastic news for those athletes and coaches who have just returned to training and striving for success in the green and gold next year and beyond.

“Sport is a foundation of the Australian way of life and at the ASC, we are passionate about helping athletes - at all levels - be the best they can.”

Over $3.9m will be directed towards supporting technology and innovation through key sporting infrastructure, including projects for Australia’s swimmers, paddle and winter sport athletes, along with an infrastructure funding pool, managed by the AIS and enabling a wide range of smaller sports to access the very best in sports technology.

AIS CEO Peter Conde said the funding boost enables the organisation to continue crucial work in the applied technology and innovation space.

“New initiatives in sport technology, infrastructure and innovative partnerships are at the heart of the evolved strategy of the AIS,” Conde said.

“This investment enables a number of our key sports partners to really maximise opportunities and optimise athlete performance.”

The AIS also continues its significant commitment to a range of key areas in high performance sport, including Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement, assistance for emerging and talented athletes through Pathways programs, and its partnership with the National Institute Network, through the National High Performance Sport Strategy.