ASF survey suggests financial struggles faced by elite athletes could see sport looking to philanthropy

A new report from the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) has revealed that financial insecurity is placing crippling pressures on the nation’s elite athletes and that philanthropic funding may be needed fill funding shortfalls for major events.

Released today, the ASF’s Running on Empty report reveals that the earnings from all sources of almost half of elite athletes (46%) over the age of 18 totals less than $23,000 per annum, placing them below the poverty line.

In addition, the report found that more than half (52%) of the elite athletes surveyed were considering leaving their sport with those surveyed spending more each year on competition travel and accommodation than they did on food.

It also shows that cost-of-living pressures are increasing for elite athletes, along with challenges for their mental health.

With the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games less than one year away, the study suggests that Australia risks losing elite athletes before the 2032 Brisbane Olympics unless philanthropic funding can help fill the funding shortfall.

Commissioned by the ASF to assist its efforts to raise additional community and philanthropic funds to provide better support for emerging and representative athletes, the research set out to understand the experiences and issues athletes had experienced over the past 12 months.

Open to Australian athletes from all sports, the survey covered more than 2,300 athletes from more than 60 sports, including 604 elite athletes (national or international level).

Advising that the research highlighted how financial realities meant there is a high risk of elite athletes walking away from sport, ASF Chief Executive, Patrick Walker explained “the public would be quite surprised to understand that most of our Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes - who, once every four years, we gather around the television and we cheer on - most of them are doing it really, really tough.

“They’re earning below the poverty line, certainly below the minimum wage, they’re relying on mum and dad, and part-time jobs.”

The top four themes of the research findings for elite athletes are:

1.  Elite athletes are in financial distress

2. Mental health is declining and greater support is in high demand

3. Australia risks an exodus of elite athletes

4. The green and gold runway needs investment in athletes

One of the thousands of direct quotes provided in the online survey was from an elite female hockey player, who advised “funding is my constant concern. Being a female, and in an Olympic sport which does not have high commercial support, it can be very soul destroying knowing myself and my teammates are the best in our country for our gender in a well-known Olympic sport, and yet we earn a pittance.”

Walker conceded that while the top tier of athletes enjoyed relative financial comfort compared with those struggling to establish themselves, the challenge was ensuring Australia’s elite group was not disproportionately coming from families who could afford to support them.

He noted “a large proportion of our athletes who come through the pathway system and are able to go on and represent their country do come from higher-income families.”

Looking to Philanthropy
Walker wants the ASF, and the sporting sector generally, to pursue the philanthropic traditions of the arts to increase the pool of funding. In its efforts to raise money for athletes, the ASF targets high-net-worth individuals and helps run small-scale online fundraising, and has been granted tax-deductible status.

He stated “the arts raises about $350 million a year from philanthropy.

“We’ve grown what we raise (at the ASF), but it was only $80 million last year.

“I don’t believe that sport is one quarter as valuable to the average Australian as the arts” adding that philanthropy in sport “should be at the same level as the arts because it’s as valuable to communities and the health of our nation”.

The survey reveals the financial reality of those who aspire to represent Australia, based on responses from 604 athletes who reported they competed at international or national level.

Click here for more information on the ASF research.