Brazil unveils rules for athletic grants in 2023

Brazil’s Sports Ministry on Tuesday (Jan. 31) released the public notice for the 2023 edition of Bolsa Atleta, the country’s monthly allowance for athletes. Funding totals BRL 82 million and aims to assist athletes aged 14 and older, with a focus on the Olympics and Paralympics in the 2022 calendar.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also celebrated the release of the public notice, and wrote on his social media that the government is “bringing back its support for sports.”

Registration began Tuesday and should be open until February 17. All submissions can be made online.

As it stands today, the initiative benefits 6,419 athletes, who are divided into the categories Base (292 reached), Student (241), National (4,794), International (847), and Olympic/Paralympic (245). The allowances vary from BRL 370 to BRL 3,100.

One of the ways to gauge the strength of Bolsa Atleta is the Brazilian participation in mega sporting events. In the last edition of the Olympic Games, for instance, 80 percent of the Brazilian delegation in Tokyo received the aid, compared to 95 percent in the Paralympics.

In the Olympics held in the Japanese capital, Brazil won 21 medals (seven gold, six silver, eight bronze), with 19 of these won by athletes benefited by the grant. In the Paralympics, Brazilians won 72 medals (22 gold, 20 silver, 30 bronze), with program beneficiaries accounting for 68 medals.