Olympic champions to get scholarships equivalent to five average salaries, as government increases support for young athletes
Beginning January 1, 2026, students and young individuals who excel in sports will receive monthly scholarships from the government. This initiative is part of an expansion of the national program aimed at supporting high-performance athletes. The scholarships will be available to adolescents aged 13 to 15 as well as young adults aged 21 to 23, a group that has not previously received this financial assistance.
Until now, scholarships were granted only to senior athletes, juniors aged 18 to 20, and cadets aged 16 to 17.
The amount of the scholarships will vary depending on the competition in which the athletes participate and the results they achieve.
For example, athletes who win a gold medal at the Olympic Games will receive a monthly allowance of up to five times the average salary in the economy. (As a note, the average salary in the economy is expected to be 16,100 lei in 2025.)
For students who win medals at the European Championships, scholarships will start at a minimum of one-quarter of the average salary in the economy.
These new provisions will take effect on January 1, 2026, with an estimated total implementation cost of approximately 59.1 million lei.
Dan Perciun, the Minister of Education and Research, stated that this initiative "reaffirms the commitment to supporting high-performance athletes and creating a fair and transparent system for rewarding their results."
In 2025, the state allocated over 47 million lei for athlete scholarships. Additionally, in 2024, the Republic of Moldova achieved the best results in its sports history, earning a total of 731 medals at Olympic, Paralympic, and non-Olympic competitions, including six medals at the Paris Olympic Games—one silver and five bronze. These accomplishments have strengthened the country's position in international rankings and highlighted the potential of the new generation of athletes.
