Funding boost for Commonwealth hopefuls

AUSTRALIA’S financially struggling athletes are set to receive a rare injection of cash ahead of tonight’s Federal Budget but the money’s not coming from the Federal Government.

Instead, the Commonwealth Games Australia will today announce a $13 million package to help prepare the Aussie team for the 2022 Games in Birmingham.

Australia’s elite athletes have been pleading with the Government to stop cutting funding to sports programs, but while their wishes have fallen on deaf ears, some good news is finally at hand, even if the CGA had to raise the dough itself.

“The funding is designed to complement rather than replace or replicate any other sources of funding such as via Sport Australia or the AIS,” CGA chief executive Craig Phillips said. “And in some sports where Olympic related funding is minimal, this funding provides a lifeline for their athletes and the sport.”

The much-needed cash will be used to fund various programs in the 18 different sports that will be contested at Birmingham with the aim of keeping Australia on top of the medals table after the brilliant success of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Australia won a record 198 medals, including 80 gold, to finish as the No.1 nation at the Gold Coast last year but four years earlier in Glasgow, England finished top.

Gold Coast’s former Olympic champion Glynis Nunn last month in the Bulletin argued for greater funding to be distributed to Olympic sports.