File picture: At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the Indian alpine skier clocked 2:41.60 across his two runs at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, Italy, to log what is now India’s best-ever finish in men’s slalom at the Winter Olympics. | Photo Credit: AFP

Indian skiers Arif Mohammad Khan and Stanzin Lundup will become the country’s first beneficiaries of the International Olympic Committee’s new USD 10,000 Olympian Grant after representing India at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year.

The grant, introduced under the IOC’s “Fit for the Future” strategic framework, marks a significant shift from the Olympic movement’s long-standing amateurism principle, under which athletes did not receive direct financial benefits. The initiative aims to support Olympians who qualify for the Games and maintain a clean anti-doping record.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry has stressed that the payment is not prize money but a support mechanism recognising the effort required to reach the Olympics. Applications will open through a dedicated process later this year, with payouts expected to begin before the end of 2026.

Arif, 36, delivered India’s best-ever men’s slalom result by finishing 39th at the Milano-Cortina Games, surpassing the previous national best of 49th set by Kishore Ratna Rai at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

“This grant recognises what an athlete goes through during an Olympic cycle. USD 10,000 is a meaningful amount that can genuinely help an athlete,” Arif said.

“But it is not just about the money. It shows the IOC cares about the athlete’s journey. They are recognising the sacrifices and hard work that go into becoming an Olympian. That makes it a landmark step.”

Lundup, 28, made his Winter Olympics debut in cross-country skiing, finishing 104th in the men’s 10km freestyle event. His selection had been challenged in the Delhi High Court by higher-ranked skier Manjeet Kumar, but the Sports Ministry allowed him to compete after the Indian Olympic Association said changes were impossible beyond the entry deadline. Lundup later served as India’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony.

Announcing the initiative, IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Pau Gasol said the grant would be available to every Olympian, not only medal winners, with funding capped at USD 140 million per Olympic Games.

Published on Jun 25, 2026