With the London Olympics only 1000 days away, a group of Australian Olympians today received a timely financial boost, in the form of the adidas Medal Incentive Funding program.

In partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), the adidas Medal Incentive Funding program gives financial assistance to all medallists from the Beijing 2008 Olympics, with Gold Medallists receiving $15,000, Silver Medallists $10,000 and Bronze Medallists $7,500.

In total, over $900,000 in financial support was supplied to successful Beijing medallists and aspiring London Olympians and an estimated $5 million is forecast to be paid to medalling athletes between now and 2012.

Athletes including Beijing medallists Sally McLellan, Cate Campbell, Robin Bell, Matthew Mitcham and Melissa Wu were presented with their cheques by adidas representative Jimmy Tansey and AOC Director of Sport, Fiona de Jong, and were very grateful for the support.

The cheque presentation took place at the home of the Sydney Olympics, Sydney Olympic Park, and contained a touch of London with a London cab on hand to mark the 1000 days to go milestone.

“As an athlete, winning a medal at an Olympics is our ultimate goal, so to receive this funding from adidas is an fantastic bonus,” McLellan commented.

“Most Olympic athletes struggle to make ends meet, juggling full time training with trying to make a living, so support like this is fantastic and helps us keep focused on our training and our target of winning another medal in 1000 days.”

The adidas Medal Incentive Funding program is just one part of the adidas’ support for the Australian Olympic Team with the company also supplying over 100,000 items of apparel and footwear for the Summer Olympics team.

“adidas has had a long tradition in Olympic sports and we are very proud of our history, and support of the Australian Team,” adidas Marketing Director Simon Millar commented.

“We are especially proud that this support goes beyond supplying our cutting edge technology to help the athletes perform their best, and includes supporting them in between Olympics so they can focus on their training and performing again in 1000 days in London.”

AOC Director of Sport, Fiona de Jong said “This commitment by adidas to our Olympians and aspiring Olympians has a meaningful impact on the lives of Australia’s athletes, their ability to remain in their sport and continue to train allowing them to pursue their Olympic dreams”.

For more information on the adidas Incentive Funding Program click here>>>