The State of Amateur Athletics – Kiwis Pay Own Way

We all know the amount from government subsidies (i.e. the carding system in Canada) barely pays for basic living expenses. The money does help, but often athletes rely on a part time job to make ends meet.

Then there was news about the Canadian and Australian Government rewarding athletes winning a medal at the Olympics.

Now, with the sad state of Athletics, New Zealand may force the athlete to pay for part of the expenses towards the Olympic Games.

From stuff.co.nz:

Cash crisis for Olympic stars
By JOHN MATHESON – Sunday News | Sunday, 10 February 2008

New Zealand’s Olympics boss has revealed that unless his organisation gets a cash injection athletes like world champion shot putter Valerie Vili may have to help pay their own way to future games.

Eion Edgar – the president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee – told Sunday News last night the organisation is facing a $2.5 million deficit in the four-year lead up the 2012 Games in London.

It’s possible that unless we increase our funding, athletes who want to compete may have to pay part of their own way,’’ Edgar said.

The NZOC is struggling to keep up with the improving standard of New Zealand athletes.

The size of the team that will travel to the Beijing Olympics in August is expected to be the biggest ever sent from New Zealand despite the NZOC raising their qualification standards.

“We are getting more teams qualifying and then you get situations like rowing we will have one of our biggest rowing teams ever in Beijing.

“It demonstrates how well New Zealand does on that wide world stage.

“I’m excited about it but equally that’s why we have to plan to make sure we are in a well placed financial situation in 2012.

“What we were looking to do is raise our profile and increase the understanding of what our long term goals are.

“At the moment we are in good shape but looking out, if you take the long term view and plan for the next five or six years as any responsible board should, we need to increase our funding. There’s no hiding from that.”

Edgar said the NZOC will always look to fund athletes for Commonwealth and Winter and Summer Olympic Games.

But, he said, “With the number of Games, for some of them we may have to say `You have to pay part of it.”‘

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