The state government will provide the WA Institute of Sport with an additional $20.8 million over the next four years, on the back of recent Olympic success in Paris.
It is hoped the extra funding will aid WAIS athletes in their pursuit of excellence at the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles and Brisbane respectively.
Presently, WAIS receives an annual base package of $9.5 million from the state government, which accounts for 90 per cent of the academy’s funds.
The state government outlined on Tuesday morning that the $20.8 million boost was in addition to its annual $9.5 million commitment.
Within the added package, WAIS will receive an additional $9 million in baseline funding, along with $7.5 million towards operations, governance and athlete-focused development and welfare programs.
Around $500,000 has also been set aside for refurbishments at the academy’s high performance service centre, to cater for a larger workforce.
WAIS chair, Dr Neale Fong, welcomed the announcement.
"Fifty-three Western Australians have performed on the world stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and a further 20 will strive for success in the Paralympics shortly,” he said.
"WAIS is proud to support these athletes as a vital step on their path to representing Australia, and this funding from the cook government is vital in ensuring that how we win is just as important as winning itself.”
During an in-depth interview with Business News earlier this year, WAIS chief executive officer Matt Fulton – who was appointed permanent CEO on April 4 following an interim stint – spoke about the importance of ensuring operational stability within the academy, following its turbulent period.
By rebuilding the foundations of the organisation, the WAIS boss was optimistic it could set the academy up for the next four decades and beyond.
Several WAIS athletes performed strongly in Paris – including Busselton-born pole vaulter Nina Kennedy, who won gold in the women’s final, along with boxer Charlie Senior, a bronze medalist in the men’s 57kg boxing.
