IOC launches “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant” to give athletes $10,000 each
IOC announces a $10,000 “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant” for eligible athletes, marking the first direct revenue-sharing program in its 132-year history.
The International Olympic Committee approved a historic revenue-sharing measure at its 146th full session in Lausanne, creating the “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant” that will deliver $10,000 payments to qualifying Olympians. The grant, unveiled by Pau Gasol and endorsed by IOC leadership, is designed to support athletes’ sporting careers and their transition to post-competition life. The IOC said the program is the first time in the organization’s 132-year history that it will distribute revenue directly to athletes.
IOC approves athlete revenue-sharing programme
The grant was adopted as a surprise measure during the Lausanne gathering of IOC members and athlete representatives. The decision establishes a new mechanism for sharing a portion of Olympic revenues with competitors rather than confining financial flows to federations and organizing committees. The move was framed publicly as recognition of the commitment and sacrifices required to reach the Olympic level.
Eligibility and application timeline for Milan–Cortina athletes
All Olympians will be eligible to apply provided they have not breached anti-doping rules, the IOC Code of Ethics, participation conditions or the Olympic Charter. Athletes who competed at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan–Cortina are explicitly eligible to file applications once the process opens. The IOC has said it will publish detailed application and disbursement procedures and aims to open the first application window by the end of this year.
Fund size, payment schedule and stated purpose
The IOC has set up a dedicated fund totaling $140 million per Olympiad to finance the new grant scheme. The committee indicated that the fund will support both active sporting careers and athletes’ transitions into professional life after sport. Initial payments from the program are expected to begin in 2027, following the establishment of application rules and verification processes by the IOC administration.
Leadership statements and athlete commission role
Pau Gasol, chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and a former international basketball star, announced the fund and stressed that the payment is not prize money but recognition of the journey to become an Olympian. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, herself a two-time Olympic swimming champion, had previously expressed reservations about direct payments, but she hailed the outcome as a long-standing discussion now put into practice. The Athletes’ Commission will play a central role in shaping the criteria and oversight for the grant.
Reform of host selection and timeline for the 2036 decision
Alongside the athlete funding decision, the IOC formalized changes to the host selection process for future Games and scheduled the award of the 2036 Summer Olympics for 2029. The updated procedure introduces a new intermediate stage called a “strategic dialogue” to narrow the candidate field before moving to a targeted dialogue and a final vote. The strategic dialogue for 2036 is due to begin in early 2027 under the IOC Executive, with a targeted dialogue in late 2028 and a member vote slated for 2029.
Implications for Germany’s bid and upcoming national decision
Germany, which has placed bids for the 2036, 2040 and 2044 Summer Games, will choose a single candidate city or region on September 26 at a meeting in Baden-Baden. The national selection will come down to Berlin, Munich and a Cologne/Rhein-Ruhr option, with the winner entering the IOC’s revised multi-stage process. The reformed system contrasts with the previous “continuous dialogue” model and is intended to give the wider membership a more active role in the selection decision.
The IOC’s new grant program and parallel bidding reforms mark a significant shift in how the Olympic movement allocates resources and manages host selection. By creating a dedicated athlete fund and restructuring the bidding timetable, the IOC aims to address long-standing calls for greater athlete support and more transparent, participatory host selection mechanics.
