IOC approves $509,285,000 funding for new Solidarity plan

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) The IOC has budgeted $509,285,000 to fund development and assistance programs for athletes and national Olympic committees over the next four years, placing extra emphasis on refugee athletes.

The International Olympic Committee released a statement saying its Olympic Solidarity budget for the 2017 to 2020 period was a 16 percent increase on the $439,870,000 from the 2013-16.

''This increase shows that the athletes remain at the heart of all our activity,'' said Pere Miro, the IOC's deputy director general for relations with the Olympic movement.

The funding represents a share of the broadcast rights from the 2016 and 2018 Olympics, and is for programs prioritizing athlete development, training of coaches and sports administrators.

There are two new programs across the 21 proposed for 2017-20, including one that puts extra emphasis on refugee athlete support.

The IOC said building on the experience in Rio, where a refugee Olympic team competed for the first time, it would create a dedicated program to provide NOCs with the opportunity to identify and support a small number of refugee athletes living in their countries to prepare and participate in international competitions.