Australia is giving athletes from 14 countries in the Pacific $15.6 million to help them reach the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the funding commitment on Tuesday while in Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum, where he was joined by Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy.
Mr Albanese said the funding would be delivered over four years to give athletes from Pacific countries access to high-performance training, and provide them with “qualification opportunities” to compete at major international events.
The funding will also support Pacific athletes and officials during the Tahiti 2027 Pacific Games, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Rarotonga 2029 Pacific Mini Games, and other international sporting events.
“The Pacific is home to incredible sporting talent. This new partnership will contribute to producing the next generation of successful athletes,” Mr Albanese said.
“As we move forward in planning for Brisbane 2032 Australia looks forward to welcoming the best of the best sporting talent from the Pacific and supporting them to go for gold.”
Mr Conroy said the funding would also help with “gender equality” in the Pacific.
“Sport has a unique power to bring people together, and support healthy lives, gender equity and youth leadership,” he said.
“This is an investment in the development of athletes across the Pacific. I look forward to seeing many successful Pacific athletes at the upcoming Paralympics, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”
On Wednesday Mr Albanese also announced the Australian government would be partnering with Qantas to extend the Palau Paradise Express direct air service between Brisbane and Koror, but did not say how much it would cost the taxpayer.
Mr Albanese visited Palau twice privately last year, once on a secret trip in October that sparked fury due to his decision not to inform the public, and again for his honeymoon in December.
Header image: Mr Albanese at the Pacific Islands Forum (PMO).
