IPC welcomes major global partnership with Airbnb

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has welcomed Airbnb as a new Worldwide Paralympic Partner in a nine-year, five-Games partnership which is designed to create a new standard for hosting that will be a win for host cities, a win for spectators and fans, and a win for Para athletes.

This agreement through to 2028 will bring multiple benefits to the Paralympic Movement. Working together with the IPC, Airbnb will continue its work to grow and promote accommodation with accessible features to enable people with disabilities or accessibility needs to find stays which fit their requirements. This is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which the IPC has signed up to, and Airbnb’s mission to promote sustainable travel.

In collaboration with the IPC, Airbnb will enable Para athletes to share their passion with people around the world via its Experiences platform, providing direct earning opportunities, and underlining the IPC’s efforts to support Para athletes and to put them at the heart of the Paralympic Movement. This will bring Airbnb’s goal of providing economic empowerment through hosting to athletes across the globe – beyond the timeframe and geographical location of the Games.

As part of the agreement, the IOC will make at least USD 28 million 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.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “This fantastic partnership with Airbnb will bring huge advantages to the Paralympic Movement, creating revenue and accommodation opportunities for Para athletes and giving the IPC an opportunity to work with Airbnb’s global community to further accessible accommodation around the world. Airbnb’s philosophy also supports the work the IPC is undertaking to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, making for a more inclusive world for all.

“Airbnb is the IPC’s eighth Worldwide Paralympic Partner and the second new partner to join the IPC since the IOC-IPC Agreement was signed in March 2018.”

Airbnb Co-founder, Joe Gebbia said: "Airbnb's mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere. Together with our host community and the International Paralympic Committee, we will ensure the next five Olympic and Paralympic Games are the most accessible yet. Para athletes have overcome significant challenges to be best in their field and compete at the Games, and we are delighted to launch Airbnb Olympian Experiences which will support Para athletes in sharing their passions with the world and allow them to monetise their skills."

Chelsey Gotell, Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council, said: “This is great news. It's a partnership that really does provide exciting opportunities for all Para athletes around the world to earn money and benefit from support for their accommodation needs.  The opportunity for athletes to act as hosts and provide guests with once-in-a-lifetime experiences will help the wider world achieve a greater understanding of what it takes to be a high-performance Para athlete.

“We look forward to working with Airbnb and the IOC on this exciting innovation that promotes sport, physical accessibility and accessible accommodation.”

Airbnb becomes the Worldwide Paralympic Partner in the exclusive category “Unique Accommodation Products and Unique Experiences Services” through until the end of 2028.  This covers the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028.