International Olympic Committee Launches 'Fit for the Future' Grant for Athletes
國際奧委會推出「適應未來」運動員資助計劃
Introduction
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new financial grant system to provide money and support to Olympic athletes.
國際奧委會 (IOC) 已宣布一套新的財務資助系統，旨在為奧運運動員提供資金與支持。
Main Body
The 'Fit for the Future Olympian Grant' represents a major change in how the IOC distributes its funds, with $140 million allocated every Olympic cycle. Under this new plan, eligible athletes with Aa accreditation can apply for a $10,000 payment for every Games they attend. This initiative is designed to help athletes maintain their professional training or support them as they move into new careers after competing. Furthermore, the program will be managed through National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to ensure these grants are separate from other IOC support programs.
「適應未來奧運運動員資助計劃」代表了 IOC 分配資金方式的重大改變，每個奧運週期將撥出 1.4 億美元。在 this 新計劃下，持有 Aa 認證的合資格運動員每參加一次賽事即可申請 1 萬美元的款項。此舉旨在幫助運動員維持專業訓練，或在他們競賽後轉入新職業時提供支持。此外，該計劃將透過各國奧委會 (NOC) 管理，以確保這些資助與 IOC 的其他支持計劃分開。
To be eligible, athletes must follow the Olympic Charter, the IOC code of ethics, and anti-doping rules. However, those who participate in the Youth Olympic Games are not included in this program. The first group of athletes to receive the grant will be those from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Applications will open in late 2024, and the money will be paid out in 2027. It is estimated that around 14,000 athletes per cycle will qualify for these funds.
要符合資格，運動員必須遵守《奧林匹克憲章》、IOC 倫理守則及反禁藥規則。然而，參加青年奧運會的人員不在此計劃之列。首批收到資助的運動員將是 2026 年米蘭-科爾蒂納冬奧會的參賽者。申請將於 2024 年底開放，資金將於 2027 年發放。據估計，每個週期將有約 14,000 名運動員符合領取這些資金的資格。
This new policy comes during a wider debate about how athletes are paid. While World Athletics has started giving prize money to gold medalists at the Paris 2024 Games, the IOC emphasizes that this grant is different from a performance-based reward. President Kirsty Coventry and Athletes’ Commission Chair Pau Gasol asserted that the grant is not prize money, but rather a way to recognize the hard work and sacrifices athletes make. This decision follows long-term pressure from the athletic community for the IOC to use its large financial reserves to support athletes directly.
這項新政策出現在關於運動員如何獲酬的更廣泛討論期間。雖然世界田聯已開始向 2024 年巴黎奧運會的金牌得主發放獎金，但 IOC 強調此資助與基於表現的獎勵不同。主席 Kirsty Coventry 與運動員委員會主席 Pau Gasol 肯定該資助並非獎金，而是一種認可運動員辛勤付出與犧牲的方式。此決定源於體育界長期以來要求 IOC 利用其龐大財務儲備直接支持運動員的壓力。
Conclusion
The IOC has moved away from its tradition of not paying athletes by creating a structured grant system, offering $10,000 to eligible Olympians starting with the 2026 Winter Games.
IOC 透過建立一套結構化的資助系統，打破了不向運動員支付款項的傳統，從 2026 年冬奧開始為合資格的奧運運動員提供 1 萬美元。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The 'B2 Leap': Moving from Simple to Complex Logic
At the A2 level, you likely use 'and', 'but', and 'because'. To reach B2, you need to use words that connect ideas more professionally. Let's look at the 'glue' used in this text.
🧩 The Connection Toolkit
1. Beyond 'But' However
- A2 style: The grant is for athletes, but Youth Olympic athletes cannot get it.
- B2 style: "However, those who participate in the Youth Olympic Games are not included..."
- Coach's Tip: Put However at the start of a sentence followed by a comma to signal a shift in direction. It sounds more formal and structured.
2. Beyond 'Also' Furthermore
- A2 style: The program gives money and it is managed by NOCs.
- B2 style: "Furthermore, the program will be managed through National Olympic Committees..."
- Coach's Tip: Use Furthermore when you are adding a second, more important piece of evidence to your argument.
3. Beyond 'It is' It is estimated that...
- A2 style: 14,000 athletes will get money.
- B2 style: "It is estimated that around 14,000 athletes... will qualify."
- Coach's Tip: B2 speakers avoid sounding 100% certain if they don't have exact data. Using "It is estimated that" or "It is believed that" makes you sound more academic and precise.
🛠️ Practical Upgrade: The 'Passive' Power
Look at this phrase: "...$140 million allocated every Olympic cycle."
Instead of saying "The IOC gives 140 million," the text uses a structure where the money is the focus.
Try this logic:
- A2: The company hired a new manager. (Active)
- B2: A new manager was hired by the company. (Passive)
Why? Because in B2 English, the action or the result is often more important than the person doing it.