Airbnb partners with IOC and IPC to host historic online Olympic festival

Airbnb partners with IOC and IPC to host historic online Olympic festival

With the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics postponed until 2021, Airbnb is reimagining both events with an online program of activities.

For the first time in history, the short-term rental giant has partnered with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to create a five-day festival of online experiences.

More than 100 ‘Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences’ are being hosted by the world’s best athletes, including the likes of Naomi Osaka, Yusra Mardini, Rui Hachimura, Allyson Felix, and Lex Gillette (pictured).

Fans who book to attend the festival, which kicks off today (24 July – the original start date of the Tokyo Olympics), will provide support to their heroes, as proceeds will provide income to athlete hosts, now and beyond the festival, including some who are on the road to their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.

“At a time when it is difficult for people to gather and celebrate the exceptional performance of athletes, Airbnb is proud to host the festival which is a new way to experience the Olympic and Paralympic spirit online,” Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia said.

“Guests will be able to connect and interact with some of the most elite competitors within the Olympic and Paralympic movement, giving them even more reasons to cheer them on next year.”

Throughout the five days of programming, occurring across multiple time zones, the line-up will showcase a variety of interactive Online Experiences that guests can book on Airbnb.

Spectators can also watch select Online Experiences live or on replay on Airbnb and Olympic YouTube channels.

It comes after the Tokyo Olympics were forced to reschedule due to the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic. In March this year, the IOC announced that the major event would instead take place next year from 23 July to 8 August.

The shift in dates marked the first occasion an Olympic Games had been rescheduled in peacetime, with the 1940 and 1944 games cancelled due to World War II, and the 1916 games cancelled due to World War I.

For more information on the line-up of Airbnb’s Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences, click here.

Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are interested in sharing their passions with guests to earn supplemental income can learn more and also sign up to become a host here.


Featured image source: Airbnb

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