This is a patchwork of countries. No wonder that all have their own system.
For the Netherlands, I can safely say that it's all been paid by parents, family, personal sponsors etc. One of my colleagues concluded that Laser sailing on an international level is a rich man's sport. I suppose he's right. Sometimes 'checkbook championship' springs to my mind.
When one is 'good enough' to start an Olympic program, most sailors get an income that's founded by the National Lottery. It's barely our country's mandatory minimum monthly wage. Sailors are allowed to be funded by personal sponsors. Sadly, Laser sailing ain't sexy like soccer or pro-cycling. It's pretty difficult to find a sponsor.
Current U18 team has a clothing sposor: Musto BR1 gear and shirts for free. A maritime salvage company dug in deep for the needed money. One sailing parent can be very 'convincing' when it comes to luring in sponsors.
In short: it's very costly. An anecdote: a few weeks back a sailing-mom watched her son leaving the port. She said: "There's my new kitchen. Floating..."
Menno
That sounds like a solid system given the number of Italian champions over the last few years. More interestingly: countries like Malta churn out oppie-winners one after the other. Same goes for Cypres - Kontides isn't the only great Laser sailor.
I mentioned 'checkbook champions'. Two examples I've witnessed since 2017. After the regatta one sailor's boat is handled, stored and transported by employees of his father. All the sailor has to do, is to get his boat ashore after the last race... Second example: the Dutch crew is waiting for the cattle-class flight from Nice to Amsterdam, when another sailor walks into the lobby where an employee picks up his luggage and he's escorted out to a private plane.
M
Laser Masters sailing is big here in NW Europe; mainly Radials. Most master sailors are able to afford a new boat every XXX years. Their older boats go to their children, grandchildren etc. We have a lot of inland sailing clubs where you're able to sail pretty sheltered on lakes. Even non-hardcore sailors can have a great time.
No special funding. Deep pockets.
Furthermore, we live in a small country. It's easy to throw your gear in the back of your car and drive down the clubhouse within 30 mins or so for a Wednesday Evening Competition (every sailing club has Wednesday evening competition. Sometimes between Lasers, often with a rating system). Lots of fun and Lasers are well-used. Boats are permanently stored on what we call a 'Jollenveld' (Dinghy field) and are ready to go. Getting your gear on will take more time than preparing the boat.
In short, we have a relatively big market for Lasers due to the wealth of master sailors. Some parts of Germany have the same situation as we and pockets are even deeper than ours.
I can't tell you about other countries, although France has a school sailing program as I've seen in Bandol (near Marseille). Big groups lead to potentially more sailors. the young man from France who won the EC in Athens (a very nice guy, btw... according to my son) is supposedly one of the examples of a proper school sailing program.