Federal government to deliver budget money to Paris-bound athletes

By The Canadian Press on July 4, 2024.

Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough speaks in Ottawa on December 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

CALGARY – The federal government is making good on a budget promise to Canada’s athletes as they prepare for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris later this summer.

National sport minister Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment Randy Boissonnault and treasury board president Anita Anand were in Calgary to announce the $55 million in athlete carding money, sport support and community sport funding that was promised in April’s budget is on its way.

Olympic and Paralympic athletes will see an increase in their monthly cheques, helping to cover bills, training, and competition costs not funded by their national sports organization..

Top athletes have been getting $1,765 per month from the Athletes Assistance Program for just over $21,000 annually.

Roughly 1,900 athletes across 90 sports receive monthly cheques.

The federal government will invest $40 million annually in the AAP, which represents an increase of about 25 per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2024.