Anthony Albanese is set to announce A$15.6 million in funding to help Pacific athletes and officials prepare for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The four-year package will support representatives from 13 Pacific countries, giving them access to high-performance training, international competition and qualification opportunities.
It is being delivered through a partnership involving the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, Commonwealth Games Australia and regional sporting organisations.
The support will also cover the Tahiti 2027 Pacific Games, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Rarotonga 2029 Pacific Mini Games and other international events.
The announcement builds on an earlier Australian-backed programme which helped more than 250 athletes from 13 Pacific nations train and travel for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.
Pacific athletes backed on the road to Brisbane 2032
Albanese, who arrived in Palau on Monday for the Pacific Islands Forum, said the region was home to “incredible sporting talent”.
“This new partnership will contribute to producing the next generation of successful athletes,” the Australian prime minister said.
“As we move forward in planning for Brisbane 2032 Australia looks forward to welcoming the best of the best sporting talent from the Pacific and supporting them to go for gold.”
Pat Conroy, Australia’s Minister for the Pacific, said sport could strengthen regional ties while supporting healthy lifestyles, gender equity and youth leadership.
“Sport has a unique power to bring people together,” he said.
“This is an investment in the development of athletes across the Pacific. I look forward to seeing many successful Pacific athletes at the upcoming Paralympics, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”
The funding forms part of Australia’s broader use of sport to deepen its engagement with Pacific nations, including previous investment in rugby league across Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
