: To mark the final countdown to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, Woolworths is
granting $1 million to Australia's grassroots clubs through the Woolworths Sports Grants initiative to nurture upcoming sporting talent.
Woolworths is once again the Official Fresh Food Partner of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams for Paris 2024, building on its sponsorship of the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 teams.
To commence the partnership, Woolworths will offer every qualifying athlete a $1,000 Woolworths egift card to donate to an Australian grassroots sports club of their choosing. With over 650 set to compete in the games, this amounts to approximately $700,000 grants in community sports.
Each chosen club can use the grant to restock the canteen, put on a barbeque or help with other critical needs so they can continue to support Australia's young athletes and future Olympic champions.
An additional $300,000 will also be provided to Woolworths stores nationwide to donate to local sports clubs in their area.
Olympics debutant and Australian teenage breaker, Jeff Dunne, has kick-started the Woolworths Sports Grants program by choosing Signature Dance at Currumbin in Queensland to be the recipient of his donation.
Jeff said: "I'm so excited to be able to give back to Signature Dance, a local dance club that has supported my journey since a young age.
"I would go to the dance club after school to learn from the best, and they've helped me become the breaker that I am today - representing Australia at the Olympics in a sport that's being featured for the first time.
"Some clubs, regardless of which sport, rely on volunteers and kids or teenagers (like myself) to keep them thriving.
Every piece of support counts so I'd like to thank Woolworths for giving all qualified athletes an opportunity to give back to their local club that made them an Olympian or Paralympian."
Woolworths Group Chief Marketing Officer, Andrew Hicks said: "As Today's Fresh Food People, we believe fresh food fuels the best in all of us, and it's a privilege for Woolworths to once again get behind our Aussie athletes in their quest for gold at the Olympics and Paralympics Games in Paris this year.
"In addition to supporting our athletes, we're proud to extend our partnership to benefit local community and grassroots sports across the country through our Woolworths Sports Grants. There are so many different sports, so this is a great opportunity to put the funds in the hands of our athletes to decide how they want to give back to their local communities to help support our next generation of Aussie champions."
Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll AM said: "The AOC is very grateful for this generous initiative from our partner Woolworths. Not only are they supporting the dreams of Australian Olympic athletes to get to Paris, they have recognized the critical importance of nurturing sports' grass roots. Our Olympic champions start by having a go and that leads them to a club which fosters their growth, development and love of sport. These grants will help produce a future generation of Australian Olympians. "
2024 Australian Paralympic Chef de Mission, Kate McLoughlin said: "We believe in the power of sport to influence society to be more inclusive and collaborative, reflecting the core Australian values of equality, mateship, and a fair go for everyone.
"The Woolworths Sports Grants initiative embodies these principles, providing critical support to grassroots clubs that nurture our future champions. By empowering our Paralympic athletes to give back to their local communities, we can raise the profile of Paralympic sport, fostering greater inclusion, wellbeing and a sense of belonging for all."
Woolworths is proud to be one of Australia's biggest supporters of community sport, enabling kids to understand the importance of healthy lifestyles through its existing sponsorships. Woolworths is the naming rights partner of several junior pathway programs, including Woolworths NetSetGO via Netball Australia, Woolworths Cricket Blast via Cricket Australia, and Woolworths Surf Groms via Surfing Australia.
Over the last 12 months, one in two Aussie kids, aged 5-10 years old have participated in, or received funding from, a Woolworths sponsored community program across netball, cricket and surfing.
