The Australian Olympic Committee in partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation today launched a new joint fundraising initiative allowing Australians to make tax-deductible donations directly to Australia’s aspiring Olympians.
The Aspiring Australian Olympian Funding initiative has been developed to provide a new avenue of financial support for Australia’s up-and-coming stars and future Olympians, who often earn so little, they live below the poverty line.
The fundraising opportunity, deliberately launched just before “tax time”, provides a unique opportunity for all Australians – no matter how much they have to give – to directly fund Olympic dreams.
“While Australians love, watch and follow the Summer and Winter Olympics closely, many will probably be surprised at the enormous costs associated with competing at the elite level, and how little our elite Australian athletes often survive on,” said AOC CEO Mark Arbib said.
“By donating, we want Australians to know they’re potentially making someone else’s Olympic dream a reality.
“Even a small tax-deductible donation of no more than a handful of gold coins, could ultimately deliver the greatest gold of all,” he said.
Australian Winter Olympic Skeleton competitor Nick Timmings said previous funds raised through the Australian Sports Foundation’s tax-deductible platform had made a huge difference to his ability to travel, eat and live as he competes around the world.
“While I’m always upbeat about the joys that come with being an elite athlete, the reality is last European Winter, that “elite” athlete life involved couch-surfing across the continent, because the cost of accommodation was simply beyond my means,” Mr Timmings said.
“Australian athletes do what they do for the love of sport and the opportunity of representing our country in the world’s biggest event.
“I’ll also unashamedly give a plug for our Australian Winter athletes who might sometimes be lesser known to Australians, but are massively punching above our weight on the world stage.
“With Milano Cortina 2026 only eight months away, I urge Australians to get behind our Winter Team members to give them the very best chance of success,” he said.
Australians can donate to as many athletes as they like, and as often as they like. All donations are tax-deductible and 30 Winter Olympians have registered so far.
Campaigns for aspiring Olympians can be found here.
