Olympic athletes to sell experiences on Airbnb after $500 million reconciliation | Airbnb

the International Olympic Committee encourages current and former Olympic athletes to sell personal experiences and access their training programs to fans through Airbnb.

Speaking at a press conference in London to announce Airbnb’s $500m (£380m) sponsorship of the next five Olympic Games, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “From this partnership, the athletes will also directly benefit.”

He said: “With the support of Airbnb, we will develop new opportunities for athletes around the world to develop their own direct sources of income through the promotion of physical activity and the Olympic values.”

The Olympic Experiences program “would also enrich the Olympic experience of the spectator,” Bach said.

Stephanie Reida British long jumper who won silver medals at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, said she plans to offer a range of fan experiences through Airbnb.

She said one of the first things she would offer was lessons on how to deal with nervousness before competition. “What I’m doing is just normal for me, but other people think it’s really cool,” Reid said.

Michael Thomas, an athlete from Trinidad and Tobago who competed in the 110m hurdles at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Games, said he would offer the opportunity to go run with him. “Would have [Airbnb users] do you want to run through the cities with me while i’m on the diamond league tour? ” He asked. “In a world so disconnected, [this will help] back to human interactions.

Aoife McArdle, Airbnb’s Olympic Partnership Manager, said the program was a way to connect Olympic athletes with fans. She said Olympians could share their travels “and earn some much-needed income”.

Airbnb and the IOC did not specify how much money the athletes could charge. Other experiences currently offered by Airbnb include £77 boxing lessons per person with Keisher “Fire” McLeod, world champion; a prehispanic Shaman Renewal Ceremony in Mexico for £63 per person; and “horse whisper with an equine therapist” in Barcelona for £70 per person.

Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia declined to answer questions at the press conference about the company’s UK tax affairs.

Airbnb, which is valued at £32billion, paid less than £400,000 in UK tax last year, according to accounts filed at Companies House. It grossed UK sales of over £300 million.

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This summer 10 European cities asked for more help from the EU in their battle against Airbnb and other vacation rental sites, which they say are keeping residents out of housing and changing the face of neighborhoods.

In one joint letterrepresentatives from Amsterdam, Barcelona, ​​Berlin, Bordeaux, Brussels, Krakow, Munich, Paris, Valencia and Vienna said the “explosive growth” of short-term rental platforms should be on the agenda of the next group of European Commissioners.

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