TRANSCRIPT:
Australia has long been a sporting nation.
In fact, it's one of a select group of countries to have competed in every summer Olympic Games in the modern era [[the others being France, Great Britain, Greece, and Switzerland]].
But just sixty First Nations athletes have been part of that Olympic cohort.
Among them is Marissa Williamson Pohlman, who'll become the first Indigenous woman to represent Australia in boxing at the Paris Olympics.
"It still doesn't feel real. I'm just a regular human being. But I know that my community are really proud of me - and that's the cake."
The Australian Institute of Sport has already released a strategy called the Connection to Country Action Plan, which aims to increase opportunities for more Indigenous athletes ahead of the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
Now, the Australian Olympic Committee has announced a new funding scheme - the Australian Olympic Indigenous Athlete Fund - that they hope will support more First Nations competitors to get to future Games - and succeed.
Ian Chesterman is the A-O-C President.
"Towards 2032 we hope to make a real difference and have a really big number of Indigenous athletes competing for this country, their country, in Brisbane in 2032."
Mr Chesterman says the A-O-C hopes the fund isn't just for the future - it will also apply to those heading to the Paris Games in July.
"We're really delighted to announce today that a grant we made to every Indigenous athlete in the team for Paris who meets the criteria set down by our own Indigenous advisory committee. That's a $5000 grant and we're hoping that at least 10 athletes will take advantage of that, hopefully a whole lot more, if they get to be on the team in Paris."
The funding scheme is part of a greater push by Olympic organisers to support potential athletes in pursuing their Olympic dreams.
Mr Chesterman says the A-O-C is also encouraging donations to all athletes via the Australian Sport Foundation's new Aspiring Australian Olympic Athlete Fund.
"I think it's really important that we at the Australian Olympic Committee open up funding for those athletes who do so well in games, and also in the lead up to games in key benchmark events. But, what I'm really excited about today is with our initiative today, other athletes who don't necessarily receive medals will be able to receive donations through the Australian Sports Foundation and then to us, and back to them, which I'm sure will be a big boost."
That funding boost is being played out on the international stage as well.
The World Athletics organisation broke with a 128-year tradition in April by announcing it would become the first sport to offer $50,000 in prize money for its Olympic champions, starting in Paris this year.
The announcement was welcomed by many athletes - but it was also met with sharp criticism from other international sports federations who accused Athletics president Sebastian Coe of failing to consult them beforehand.
It's also attracted some criticism from the Olympic movement itself.
The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, says that World Athletics should focus its funding on supporting athletes at the other end of the spectrum.
"This is not really a discussion about prize money. The prize money in the Olympic Games exists for decades. In 1976, we have received prize money, supported by the National International Olympic Committee. And in the meantime, this is more or less common practice among the NOCs. This is not - this question, in principle, it is a question there of how to support the athletes best, and there, everybody has a role to play."
Sebastian Coe has defended the prize money announcement, arguing that World Athletics must take an active role in supporting its athletes' financial wellbeing.
He says athletes have to see a connection between growing their sport and their own wellbeing and welfare.
For Marissa, that is certainly the case.
The boxer says there's a stark contrast between the support she has now, compared when she was an Indigenous kid in the foster care system.
The 22 year old knows all eyes will be on her when she gets to Paris - and she is still adjusting to that reality.
"I think it might hit me during the opening ceremony or when I am about to get punched in the face in my first bout at the Olympics."
