Airbnb’s festival is an opportunity for athletes to generate income whilst they share their passion for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their sport with guests

Airbnb, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are announcing a five-day summer festival featuring more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences hosted virtually by some of the world’s best athletes.

The companies festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences will kick off with an opening act on 24 July, when the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were originally scheduled to begin and is an opportunity for athletes to generate income whilst they share their passion for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their sport with guests.

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

Throughout the five days of programming across multiple time zones, the lineup will showcase a variety of interactive Online Experiences that guests can book on Airbnb from 22 July. Spectators can also watch select Online Experiences live or on replay on Airbnb and Olympic and Paralympic YouTube channels.

Whilst many hosts will continue to offer their activities after the event ends, like the art of reinvention with Olympian Simidele Adeagbo (Skelton, Nigeria) and positive thinking with Paralympic hero Stephen Miller (athletics, Great Britain), several will be once-in-a-lifetime Online Experiences available exclusively during the festival.

“The Olympic Games bring the whole world together and whilst we will all have to wait one more year to celebrate in Tokyo, the Olympic flame continues to be the light at the end of the dark tunnel humankind is currently going through. It demonstrates that we are stronger together,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“This festival is a great platform to unite and inspire the world in the spirit of friendship and solidarity this summer. The IOC puts the athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement and supports them at every stage of their journey. We are delighted to collaborate with Airbnb to provide innovative economic empowerment opportunities for Olympic and Paralympic athletes around the world.”

“Paralympians and Para athletes are masters of innovation and finding creative solutions to daily challenges they face,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons. “The summer festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences celebrates this tenacity and gives Para athletes a platform to share their stories to empower others, whilst also offering a new earning opportunity especially needed during these difficult times.”

Whilst the festival will give fans unprecedented global access to connect with athletes from over 20 countries and regions all from the comfort of their homes, numerous Online Experiences in the lineup will also meaningfully promote economic opportunities for athletes, resilience through adversity, and the world-class hospitality of Japan.

In addition to the Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences and as a way to celebrate Tokyo 2020, local hosts in Japan will offer guests a way to travel and explore the cultures and traditions of the country from their living rooms.

Through support from Shibuya City Tourism Association, local hosts will lead a package of unique online activities like Become a Ramen Expert and A Tour of Historic Shibuya. Other ways to virtually transport to Japan will include Sake Secrets from Japan’s Oldest Brewery and Explore Kyoto Where Unique Old Gods Live.

For more information on the summer festival lineup, visit their website here. If fans miss the chance to participate in the five-day event, many athletes will continue to host their Experiences—both online and in-person in countries where it’s safe and permissible to do so—with even more that will be added to Airbnb in the coming months and years.

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

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