The Cook Government is set to inject a $20.8 million funding boost over four years to enhance the operations and athlete development programs at the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
Starting from 2024-25 and continuing until 2027-28, this funding increase will supplement WAIS’s existing annual base funding of $9.5 million.
The new resources are aimed at providing enhanced support to athletes aspiring to international success and improving athlete care with an overall goal to build on WA’s best-ever Olympics result in Paris.
The additional $20.8 million funding package includes:
– A $9 million increase in base funding for WAIS.
– $7.5 million allocated for advancements in WAIS operations, governance, and athlete development and care programs.
– $500,000 earmarked for refurbishments to the WAIS High Performance Service Centre to accommodate additional staff.
The WAIS played a crucial role in the early development of Sam Kerr and other Western Australian footballers before they transitioned away from the program following the FA’s national pathway change in 2012.
Today, football is no longer a primary focus for WAIS, much like the AIS, despite the sport’s continued inclusion in the Olympics.
Premier Roger Cook commented on the upgrades his Government are leading following a proud WA cohort in Paris 2024.
“Western Australian athletes have had an unbelievable Paris 2024 Olympic campaign, with stunning medal-winning performances across athletics, sailing, swimming, cycling, diving, surfing, rowing, tennis, basketball, water polo and boxing,” Cook said in a press release.
“This major funding boost for WA’s peak athlete support organisation reflects my Government’s commitment to fostering sporting talent.
“The additional resources will provide a clear pathway for our athletes and future Olympians to thrive on the world stage, and ultimately give them the best chance of bringing gold home from Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.”
WAIS Chair Dr. Neale Fong spoke on the success in Paris 2024 and the future following the upgrades.
“Fifty-three Western Australians have performed on the world stage at the Paris Olympics, and a further 20 will strive for success in the Paralympics shortly,” Fong said in a statement.
“WAIS is proud to support these athletes as a vital step on their path to representing Australia, and this funding from the Cook State Government is vital in ensuring that how we win is just as important as winning itself.
“With the focus firmly on Paris at the moment, we are getting an insight into the ability of athletes to inspire a nation, which will only increase in magnitude at a home Games in Brisbane 2032.
“This investment enables WAIS to ensure we have strong foundations for future growth as we look to increase the number of athletes we support in preparing for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”
Futsal’s potential influence on the upgrades:
With Futsal emerging as a potential candidate for future Olympic Games and participation rates skyrocketing across all states in recent years, this upgrade could pave the way for developing some of the sport’s top athletes, should they choose to pursue that path.
The situation is extremely similar of the Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, approved in early August and constructed for the 2032 Olympics. The Moreton Bay City Council highlighted that the facility would accommodate various sports, with futsal noted as a possible activity on its 12 multi-use courts.
Football West and Football Queensland have both emphasised the significance of futsal’s growing popularity, recognising it as one of the fastest-growing sports in Australia.
While the question of futsal’s inclusion in the Olympics remains unanswered, the facility undeniably has the potential to host National and State Championships and serve as a breeding ground for the next generation of elite futsal players.
