Airbnb has taken the initiative to ignite the Olympic spirit in the form of a five-day virtual festival, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The festival which will commence on 24th July, will be conducted on the Online Experiences platform launched by Airbnb during the ongoing pandemic. With the postponement of the much awaited Tokyo 2020 Olympics to the next year, the virtual festival will provide a platform to more than a 100 elite Olympians and Paralympians to connect with their fans and share experiences through various activities and events.
The proceeds from the various events will be collected via the Airbnb website and handed over to the athletes involved.
The events will be hosted by renowned athletes like Naomi Osaka, Lauren Gibbs, Yusra Mardini, Jonny Brownlee, Kerry Walsh Jennings, Stephen Miller and many more. Apart from online sessions on personalized home based core workouts, health and fitness seminars, the series will also feature discussions on sports, ambition, the role of positive attitude and perseverance. Guests will get to know about the real life experiences, dreams and goals along with the Olympic journey of their favorite athletes.
The platform will provide inspiration and motivation to people during these uncertain times through the stories of various athletes, especially Paralympians who are experts in creating solutions for the challenges faced by them on a daily basis.
As per Catherine Powell, head of Airbnb Experiences, the festival will provide a more in depth, up-close and personal experience with the athletes as the number of participants will be limited for an interactive and intimate exchange.
Airbnb, the 11-year old, internet based accommodation firm entered into The Olympic Partner (TOP) sponsorship scheme, for a period of nine-years, till 2028. The partnership is worth an estimated $500 million and is designed to generate new standards for hosting. The company has also been actively contributing to causes during the pandemic. It provided subsidized or free housing to healthcare workers battling the Global Covid-19 outbreak. The firm has been offering virtual experiences to its users during the pandemic and has partnered with several companies, such as Bumble.
