‘We’re ecstatic’: Federal government to fund medal bonuses for Paralympians

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the federal government is set to provide funding to Paralympics Australia to ensure Paralympic athletes are given the same cash bonuses as Australian Olympic medallists.

Olympians are awarded medal bonuses by the Australian Olympic Committee and received $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze at this year’s Tokyo 2020 Games. In comparison, Paralympians were set to receive $0 for their medals.

Before question time on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the federal government would be providing the funding to ensure Para-athletes who won medals were compensated the same as Olympians.

“I’m delighted we have been able to support our fantastic Paralympians in this way,” he said. “Our Paralympians are wonderful and powerful role models.”

The announcement comes after a Go Fund Me was set up by Rio Olympic gold medallist Chloe Dalton to raise money to award Paralympic medallists similar prize bonuses. In three days, the initiative had raised $75,000.

Daniel Michel and ramp assistant Ash McClure after winning Australia’s first boccia medals in 25 years on Wednesday. Credit: Getty

Dalton, who now hosts a podcast called The Female Athlete Project, said she set up the campaign after learning the US had already rectified the issue – giving their Para-athletes the same as their Olympians – but Australia had not.

All American Tokyo 2020 medallists will receive $US50,000 for gold, $US30,000 for silver and $US20,000 for bronze.

Paralympics Australia chief executive Lynne Anderson said the medal bonuses provided by the federal government will be put to good use by their athletes.

“We’re ecstatic,” she said. “We have another layer of difficulty and expense, as the equipment is often expensive and often is only overseas, or needs customisation. If you’re a vision impaired athlete the costs are double because you have a guide. These additional dollars will be really helpful.”

Paralympics Australia released a statement on Thursday afternoon responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement.

The governing body explained Paralympics Australia simply doesn’t have the cash reserves to invest in programs such as medal cash rewards.

The statement said funding is majorly spent on delivering Australian teams to Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, as well as investing in equipment, development programs, education, coaching and technological and innovation support.

In previous years, Paralympic swimmers have received medal bonuses mostly funded by Gina Rinehart, who is a major sponsor of Australia’s swim team.

Already 60 medals have been won at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games by Australia, including 13 gold.

Host nation Japan, along with a number of other countries, offer less to their Paralympians than their Olympic medallists. Japan gives their Olympians about $63,000 for gold and around $38,000 for their Para-athletes.