In a step towards recognizing the exceptional talent and dedication of Canadian Paralympic athletes, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) has announced a new program to financially reward podium performances at the Paralympics. This development marks a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to supporting its para-athletes and promoting inclusivity in sports.

While this has been a topic of contention for years, debate was sparked after the success of Canadian Paralympians at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 128 Canadians competed at the games, 21 medals were won, but no money was given to those who made it to the podium. 

The new system, which has been named the “Paralympic Performance Recognition” program, aims to provide Canadian Paralympians with additional financial incentives based on their podium finishes at the Paralympic Games. Beginning with the upcoming summer games in Paris, and continuing for each edition afterwards, the program will reward gold medal winners with $20,000, silver medal winners $15,000, and $10,000 for bronze. The program guarantees podium finishing Paralympians the same reward as those in the Olympics. 

This announcement has been met with widespread acclaim from both athletes and advocates for disability rights. Marc-André Fabien, the CPC president, said in a Paralympic.ca press release that today is a “historic day” in the world of Paralympic sport. Fabien said that the announcement was the “cumulation of years of work to create a more equitable, inclusive space for Canada’s Paralympians to compete.” 

According to the press release, the program was kickstarted by a $2 million contribution by the federal government, matched by Paralympic Foundation of Canada (PFC) donor Sanjay Malaviya. An additional $2 million is still yet to be raised, but this amount will also be matched by Malaviya. The total of $8 million dollars will be used to launch the program, and ensure a sustainable funding model for years to come.