The state budget allocated 59.133 million lei for the increase of scholarships (by 25 per cent more compared to the previous year), and 37 million lei for bonuses for athletes for a three-year period (from 2026 to 2028). The government also allocated 92 million lei to support the activity of sports associations.
This year, the WKF Moldova Karate-do Federation was not included among the beneficiaries due to the detection of financial irregularities. The Ministry of Education and Research earlier demanded from the federation’s president Oleg Abalin to return the funds allocated by the government in 2023-2024. The requested amount has not been made public, but it exceeds 1.5 million lei. The sum includes transfers of 1.178 million lei, made by the government in 2025 for bonuses for the athletes-members of the federation. At the end of last year, the specialized ministry imposed conditions on the federation, the fulfillment of which is necessary to resume the federation’s activity.
The decision on the increase of athletes’ stipends, approved by the government in 2025, envisages monthly payments of five average salaries (80.5 thousand lei) for Olympic winners, four average salaries (64.4 thousand lei) for world champions and three average salaries (48.3 thousand lei) for European champions. Minimum payments of 0.25 average salaries (4,025 lei) are envisaged for bronze medalists of the European championships among athletes under 17, as well as for silver or bronze medalists of the continental championships among athletes under 15. For the first time, payments are accrued for young athletes aged 13 to 15 years and young athletes aged 21 to 23 years.
The regulations providing for an increase in the amount of one-time bonuses paid to athletes for high results in international tournaments also came into force. Thus, for the victory at the Olympic Games, Moldovan athletes will be paid a bonus of 400,000 lei instead of the previous 120,000 lei from January 1. Victory at the World and European Championships is now valued at 200 thousand lei. A gold medal at the youth world or European championship (U-23) will bring its holder a bonus of 100 to 200 thousand lei, depending on the status of the tournament.
Also, sports federations have been officially authorized to spend up to 15% of their budget on administrative expenses. No additional financing of sports schools is envisaged. But the list of allowable expenses to support their activity has been significantly increased, such as payment for transportation to national and international competitions, insurance of athletes, booking of places in hotels and other accommodation facilities for athletes, catering, insurance, medical services, payment for the work of referees, etc.
