When it was launched in 2004, the Athletic Grant (“Bolsa Atleta”, in Portuguese) covered 975 Brazilian athletes, who received the benefit the following year. Now, 20 years later, the program has 9,075 grantees who receive amounts ranging from BRL410 (US$73,50) to BRL16,629.99 (US$2,984) per month, with a 10.8% readjustment announced by the federal government on July 11.
With no defined targets in the first few years, the program currently has a category called Podium Athletic Grant (“Bolsa Atleta Pódio”, in Portuguese) for competitors with high chances of achieving good results at the Olympic Games.
“It started back then more like a welfare policy, a grant program without a specific goal,” explains João Victor Moretti, technical coordinator of the Sports Intelligence Research Institute at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR, in Portuguese). “With the creation of the podium category, which was set up in 2011 and began operating in 2013, the goal became to win medals,” he says.
Judoka Alana Maldonado is one of these athletes. Since 2015, she has received the Athlete Podium Grant and, thanks to the benefit, she has been able to dedicate herself fully to preparing for the Paralympic Games. “The feeling and peace of mind of knowing I could make a living from sport was surreal,” she says.
She trains daily, in the afternoons and evenings. Mornings are dedicated to physiotherapy, psychological care and other complementary activities. “If I had to reconcile a training routine with another type of work, it wouldn't be possible,” she says.
From youth athletes to medal contenders
Like Alana, another 358 Brazilian athletes are grantees of the Podium Athlete Grant, which offers the highest amounts, ranging from BRL5,543 (US$994) to BRL16,629 (US$2,984), depending on the athlete's performance at the Olympics, Paralympics or Deaflympics. Competitors ranked among the top 20 in the world in their categories are eligible. The grant lasts for four years and the highest amounts go to those who won the top positions in the world games.
Those who competed in the Olympics, Paralympics or Deaflympics, but were not ranked among the best, can apply for the Olympic/Paralympic/Deaflympic Athlete Grant, which is worth BRL3,437 (US$616). As a condition for accessing the benefit, the athlete must be in international competitions.
Athletes at the beginning of their careers can apply for grants in the youth and student categories. The Youth Athlete Grant is open to athletes who have won 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in initiation competitions indicated by the Sports Confederations. “So, for example, it could be an under-15, it could be an under-16, an under-17. It depends on the sport and the Confederation,” explains Moretti. This grant pays BRL410 (US$73.50).
With the same amount, the Student-Athlete Grant supports athletes who have won medals at the Brazilian School Games (JEBS, in Portuguese) and the Brazilian University Games (JUBS, in Portuguese). In team sports, the ten best athletes elected in a vote by the competition's coaches and referees can apply for grants.
The National Athlete Grant is worth BRL1,025 (US$184) and is aimed at athletes who have won medals in national competitions and were nominated by their respective Confederations. Those who have participated in international competitions, such as the South and Pan-American championships, are eligible for the International Athlete Grant, which is always indicated by the Confederation. The amount is BRL2,051 (US$368).
At this year's Olympic Games in Paris, of the 277 athletes representing Brazil, 247 are grantees. “If it hadn't been for the Athletic Grant, many would have stopped or wouldn't even have achieved great results. They wouldn't have gone to the Olympic Games,” says Moretti.
Edited by: Nicolau Soares
