Australia’s performances at the Rio Paralympic Games have been duly recognised by the funding allocations announced today by the Australian Sports Commission, according to Australian Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Lynne Anderson.
Ten Paralympic high performance programs will receive an increase of $683,000 in 2017-18, with the largest rises going to wheelchair rugby, Para-canoe and Para-triathlon.
The Australian wheelchair rugby team claimed its second consecutive Paralympic gold medal in Rio, while Para-triathlon and Para-canoe both secured gold in their debut appearance at a Paralympic Games.
Other Paralympic medal winning sports from Rio – Para-archery, Para-athletics, Para-cycling, Para-swimming, Para-table tennis, wheelchair tennis – secured increases while Para-sailing was the only Para-sport program to receive a reduction from its 2016-17 level, primarily due to the sport’s removal from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games program.
Importantly, winter sport was granted a $75,000 boost ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games next March.
In welcoming today’s announcement by the ASC, Anderson said: “The allocation of this funding is very pleasing and is a strong endorsement of Australian Paralympic sport.
“We were very proud that the Australian Paralympic Team met the high performance target set by the ASC last year. I applaud the ASC for acknowledging the achievement of our most successful sport programs by rewarding them today, particularly in the challenging financial climate facing Australian sport.
“Equally pleasing though, is the allocation to those sports including goalball and boccia, that continue to develop with the sole aim of achieving medal success in Tokyo. This funding is a vote of confidence in them as well.”
Australia won 81 medals, including 22 gold, at the Rio Paralympic Games last September to finish fifth on the medal tally. At the Winter Paralympic Games in March, Australia is aiming for a top 15 finish.
Details of the ASC’s 2017-18 funding allocation can be accessed here.
ASC High Performance Funding – Para-sport
Para-sport HP program | 2017-18 | Changes vs 2016-2017 |
Boccia | 113,706 | – |
Wheelchair rugby | 800,052 | 275,052 |
Goalball | 85,500 | – |
Archery | 81,908 | 81,908 |
Athletics | 1,630,000 | 18,346 |
Wheelchair basketball | 1,021,250 | – |
Canoe | 475,000 | 250,000 |
Cycling | 1,195,000 | 87,606 |
Equestrian | 475,000 | – |
Rowing | 474,597 | – |
Sailing | 150,000 | (484,500) |
Shooting | 280,250 | – |
Swimming | 1,910,000 | 21,498 |
Table tennis | 346,947 | 56,947 |
Triathlon | 465,286 | 240,286 |
Wheelchair tennis | 321,965 | 60,715 |
Winter Sports | 1,009,478 | 75,000 |
Total | 13,356,462 | 682,859 |
By APC Media
Posted: 9/7/2017