Nearly half of Australian elite athletes living below poverty line, according to survey
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Australia recently announced an increase in funding of women's sport after the success of their football team during the Women's World Cup.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SYDNEY – The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has urged the government to invest more money in sport after a survey of elite athletes found nearly half were living on incomes that placed them below the poverty line.
The survey by the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF), a charity that raises money for sport, found that 46 per cent of the country’s top competitors were living on less than A$23,000 (S$20,200) a year.
ASF chief executive Patrick Walker responded to the findings with a warning.
“This is the green and gold decade, with so many such events for us to look forward to, but they are nothing without the athletes,” he said in a statement.
“They’re earning below the poverty line, certainly below the minimum wage. They’re relying on mum and dad, and part-time jobs.”
Many of the 2,304 athletes surveyed said the situation was getting worse as the cost of accommodation and travel rose, while two-thirds of females said their mental health had been impacted by the stress of trying to make ends meet.
Worryingly for Australian hopes of a good showing at the Brisbane Olympics, the survey revealed that 43 per cent of athletes hoping to compete at the 2032 Games had considered giving up their sports.
“We cannot afford to see these inspiring young athletes walk away from their dreams,” AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said in a statement.
“Financial pressure, impact on athletes’ mental health and the risks of athletes exiting their sports as a consequence, are of huge concern.
“We are working with the government and the Australian Sports Commission on a new sport investment model.”
In March, Carroll said that the AOC had identified a A$2 billion shortfall in sports funding over the 10 years to 2032 and urged the government to make it up or risk failure at the Brisbane Games.
The government then announced in July the establishment of a A$20 million fund to help Australian athletes prepare for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.
It also recently announced a A$200 million increase in funding for women's sport after the success of the Australian football team in reaching the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup which the country co-hosted with neighbours New Zealand.
The national and Queensland state governments have also pledged to pour in some A$7 billion for the construction of the venues for the 2032 Olympics.
REUTERS
