ASC announces sweeping investment package for Australian sport

• Historic $385m Win Well and Play Well investment for 70 sports
• High Performance funding to kickstart preparations for LA2028 Games
• More sports than ever receiving Play Well participation funding

Athletes have been handed a golden start to their preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) unveiling record investment allocations for sports.

The announcement has resulted in 95% of Olympic and Paralympic summer sports receiving increased funding with an average investment increase of 64% per year, compared to the period leading up to the Paris Games.

Some $385m has been invested in 70 sports over the next 18 months, ensuring Australians have world class pathways and support at all levels of sport, from participation to high performance.

This is the first time the ASC has allocated funding that stretches from the playground to the podium, building on the success of the sector-wide High Performance (Win Well) and Participation (Play Well) strategies.

WIN WELL FUNDING

Following 12 months of consultation with sports on their strategy and performance targets leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympics, the Win Well funding highlights include:

• More sports being supported, with an increase from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs to be funded in the lead-up to LA2028
• Para sport investment doubled by an additional $54.9m over two years
• Seven new teams to receive funding across Lacrosse, Flag Football, Goalball and Blind Football
• Two additional one-off investment streams worth over $25m, including a stream focused on addressing sector gaps related to workforce planning and staff development.

PLAY WELL FUNDING

The investment in 63 sports will not only fund participation activities but also aligns with the Play Well Strategy, with highlights including:

• More sports receiving ASC investment than ever before
• $43.9m funding to create safe, welcoming, inclusive and fun places to play sport
• Five sports receiving funding for the first time: Australian Dragon Boat Federation, Handball Australia, Australian Flying Disc Association, American Football Australia and the Gaelic Football and Hurling Association of Australasia
• More than double the number of people to be directly employed to deliver participation activities across sports.

All Win Well and Play Well Funding will be allocated from 1 January 2025 until 30 June 2026.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells: 

“This is a record funding package for Australian sport, so they can take full advantage of the generational opportunity between now and Brisbane 2032.

“Our record $385 million investment in high performance sport over the next 18 months, which includes a doubling of investment in Para sport, will enable our athletes to win well on the road to Los Angeles while also encouraging more Australians to play sport.

“We are creating more opportunities for more athletes by increasing the number of sports we support from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs.

“It’s important that our kids and community sporting champions experience the same level of opportunity and I welcome the Play Well funding goal to create a safe, fair and sustainable sport system that grows participation and nurtures tomorrow’s champions.”

Quotes attributable to Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM:

“The remaining eight years until Brisbane 2032 is our chance to unite and inspire Australia through sport.

“The Play Well and Win Well funding announced today lays the foundation to do just that. We will be supporting more Australians to enjoy their sport than ever before, from those in grassroots to our Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth Games athletes making us proud on the world stage.

“I would like to thank the Australian Government for their vision and ongoing support to allow all Australians to both play well and win well.”

Quotes attributable to Athletics Australia CEO Simon Hollingsworth​​​​:

“This record investment in high performance by the Australian Sports Commission is a game-changer for Australian athletics and we acknowledge the support of the Australian Government as we seek to build on our athletes’ fantastic results in Paris.

“Early investment in the LA cycle is so critical to setting sports up for success so that we can collectively deliver on the shared vision of the Win Well HP 2032+ Strategy.”

Quotes attributable to Boccia Australia Chair Richard Boele:

“This extraordinary recognition of Para Sport in today’s funding announcement has the potential to impact every person with a disability wanting to play sport in Australia.

“We were incredibly proud of our two silver medals in Paris and the increased investment in boccia over the next 18 months will significantly lift our performance on the road to LA2028.

“On behalf of Boccia Australia, my heartfelt thanks to the Australian Government for your ongoing support of Boccia and our athletes.”

Quote attributable to Australian Flying Disc Association (AFDA) CEO Maxwell Gratton:

“This investment enables the AFDA to capitalise on the interest in our sport by hiring additional staff, upgrading our competition management systems and growing our junior and youth participation opportunities.

“Our Ulti-Mates and Fly programs offered through Sporting Schools are also helping introduce primary and secondary school students to our wonderful game.”

Editors note: Winter and Commonwealth Games only sports (Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, Snow Australia, Netball Australia and Bowls Australia) all recently received an uplift for their current investment cycle (Milano Cortina 2026 and Glasgow 2026) and will continue to be supported by ASC investment but have a different cycle due to the timing of their benchmark sporting events.

For more information about ASC funding and grants, visit www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding