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Australian Government Will Give Paralympians Prize Money For Medals After Mass Outcry

Australian Government Will Give Paralympians Prize Money For Medals After Mass Outcry

The news comes after revelations that our Paralympic heroes weren't going to be paid at all for clinching gold, silver or bronze in Tokyo.

Anonymous

Anonymous

By Stewart Perrie

The Australian government will give our athletes competing at the Tokyo Paralympics prize money if they get a medal.

There has been mass outcry over revelations that our sporting heroes aren't treated the same as their Olympic counterparts.

Aussie Olympians can get $20,000 for a gold medal, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze, however our Paralympians don't get anything from their governing body.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to change that and will set up a fund that will see Paralympians paid the same prize money.

Paralympics Australia boss, Lynne Anderson, said the disparity in pay was simply down to a lack of funding.

"Paralympics Australia absolutely agrees that our Paralympians deserve equity of recognition," she said. "PA have never had a funding program for Paralympic Games medallists as we just don't have this funding available from grants or sponsorship.

"This is something we will look at again after the Tokyo Games."

Australia's Paige Greco holds her gold medal after winning the Cycling Track Women's C1-3 3000m Individual Pursuit.
PA

The financial plight of these athletes was recently highlighted by Australian Olympian Chloe Dalton.

The rugby sevens gold medallist from the 2016 Rio Games was horrified to learn her Paralympic counterparts weren't raking in the same dough and has set out to change it.

She's launched a GoFundMe to raise funds that will be split between Australia's Paralympic medal winners.

Chloe told the Sydney Morning Herald: "My mind was blown when I found out they get zero dollars. I was under the impression it would be the same medal bonus across Olympics and Paralympics.

"A big part of it that made me feel so frustrated is that there isn't a single Paralympian competing in Tokyo that would have put in less work than an Olympian. And similar story for us in Rio as well."

In just a few days, Chloe has raised nearly $75,000 and is hoping to raise a total of $100,000 before the Tokyo Paralympic Games is over.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: government, tokyo paralympics, Paralympics, Australia