Government Approves Increase in Rewards for Elite Athletes and Coaches

The Council of Ministers approved a new decision providing increased rewards for elite athletes and their coaches, effective April 2026.
After the government meeting, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, stated that the changes aim to create a fairer and more motivating reward scheme, particularly for multi-discipline sports, by strengthening support for international achievements.
The decision introduces several key changes, including a 75% increase in support for non-Olympic sports and a 25% increase in rewards for coaches of elite athletes. Additionally, the daily food allowance for athletes will increase by 43%, rising from 3,500 ALL to 5,000 ALL.
The new program provides differentiated increases based on discipline and results. Increases can reach up to 65% for certain styles and up to 100% for final results in specific competitions. Top-level achievements may increase the total reward by up to 230%.
These changes also affect international competitions. Increases of up to 200% are planned for some result categories in European championships, while increases for others range from 50% to 100%. Rewards for the Olympic Games and World Championships are set to double, and increases are planned for the Mediterranean and Balkan competitions as well.
According to Minister Gonxhja, these changes aim to improve conditions for athletes, encourage higher performance, and promote Albania’s image in international sports.