Sports
IOC launches $100 million fund, pays Olympic athletes directly
The International Olympic Committee has committed up to $140 million for athletes through a new fund that will award $10,000 grants after each Summer or Winter Games. The fund, announced by IOC member Pau Gasol, will initially cover nearly 2,900 athletes from the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with about 11,000 athletes eligible for similar grants after Los Angeles 2028. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the initiative is part of a long-term strategic review and not a prize for winning medals.