Airbnb has teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through to 2028.
The nine-year, five-games agreement includes accommodation provisions to reduce costs for Olympic Games organisers and stakeholders and to minimize the cost for construction of new accommodation infrastructure for the Olympic Games Period as well as generating direct revenue for local host communities.
The accommodation platform said in a release it will also work with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to increase accommodation that supports accessibility for people with disabilities or other accessibility needs.
“Airbnb and the IOC have a strong track record in creating and accommodating the world’s greatest events,” Airbnb co-founder, Joe Gebbia said.
“Our Olympic partnership will ensure that the Games are the most inclusive, accessible and sustainable yet, and leave a lasting positive legacy for athletes and host communities. Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, and we are proud that the Olympic spirit will be carried by our community.”
As part of the partnership, the IOC and Airbnb will launch Airbnb Olympian Experiences to provide direct earning opportunities for athletes, underlining the IOC’s efforts to support athletes and put them at the heart of the Olympic Movement. To be launched in early 2020, this new category will host to athletes across the globe – beyond the timeframe and geographical location of the Games.
Promoting sport and physical activity, these experiences will include everything from the chance to train with an Olympian, to exploring a city with an elite athlete. In the coming months, Airbnb and the IOC, through the Athlete 365 platform, will provide support and training to athletes interested in becoming a host on the Airbnb Experiences platform.
In addition, the IOC will make at least $28 million USD ($41, 242,740 AUD) worth of Airbnb accommodation available over the course of the partnership to athletes competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games for competition and training-related travel.
Airbnb expects the partnership to generate hundreds of thousands of hosts over nine years.
