ASC funding boosts Matildas Rio 2016 preparations

The Matildas will have five camps in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympics thanks to funding assistance from the Australian Sports Commission.

The approximate $140,000 in funding has been made available from the ASC's discretionary Winning Edge program which supports athletes who are believed to have a genuine chance of winning a medal at the Olympics.

“The ASC has recognised the medal-winning potential of this exceptional Matildas squad and their popularity across the nation in making this funding allocation," said FFA CEO David Gallop.

"It’s fantastic news that will be welcomed by the Matildas and the football community in general.”

The funding will support five camps for the Matildas at the Australian Institute of Sport between May and June 2016.

The AIS is a familiar home for the Matildas with Alen Stajcic's side spending large portions of 2015 in Canberra in the lead up to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

“Everything about the AIS is first-class,” said Stajcic.

“The pitches, the sports science, the recovery facilities and the accommodation create the perfect environment to do the work and planning we need before Rio."

“On behalf of the players and staff, I thank the ASC and the AIS for this commitment. This gives the squad 21 days of top quality preparation together.

The AIS have been regular supporters of the Matildas. In addition to FFA grants, the Institute has provided 29 player with direct grants - an amount that has doubled to $330,000 since the World Cup - under the Direct Athlete Incentive Scheme.

AIS Director Matt Favier said the extra support was recognition of their recent success.

“The Matildas have been one of the great growth stories in Australian sport over the past year,” Favier said.

“Their undefeated Rio Games qualifying campaign in Osaka in March, overcoming World Cup runners-up Japan on their home turf, shows how far the Matildas have progressed."

“This strategy provides the foundational support for Australian sports and athletes to thrive, but it also creates a competitive incentive for those who step up their game and set the standards in excellence,” said Favier. “The AIS will, as always, invest in success.”

The ASC funding supplements the FFA's own arrangments for the Matildas which includes matches in the June FIFA window and further camps in July.

Australia has been drawn in Group F for the Women’s Football Tournament at the 2016 Rio Games and will play Canada (3 August 2016), Germany (6 August 2016) and Zimbabwe (9 August 2016).