With the Olympic Games postponed until 2021, Airbnb, the IOC, and the IPC will bring the spirit of the Olympics online with a curated program of activities hosted by athletesfor the first time in history.
Australian Olympians like diver Matthew Mitcham and canoeist Alyce Wood will join hundreds of elite athletes in the five-day festival featuring Experiences hosted virtually by the world’s best athletes.
The festival will kick off on July 24, when the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were originally scheduled to begin, and is an opportunity for athletes to generate income while they share their passion for the Olympic Games and their sport with guests.
“The AOC is thrilled Airbnb is partnering with the Olympic movement to connect the global community with Olympians through unique experiences. Australian Olympians have been inspiring people with their passion, commitment and character during this pandemic.
Airbnb has provided an opportunity for Olympians to share their journey firsthand, bringing the Australian and global community closer than ever to the Olympic spirit,” said AOC CEO Matt Carroll.
Aussie athletes will be heavily involved in the festival, including Goal Setting with diver Matthew Mitcham, A Cup of Productivity with canoeist Alyce Wood and Pilates with swimmer Frances Sarah Collins.
“Olympians have so many talents and stories to share that helped them reach the biggest sporting event in the world,” said Daniel Kowalski, Olympic Swimmer, and Olympian Services Manager at the AOC.
“Thank you to AirBnB for providing a platform for athletes to connect with people all around the world and give an insight into what goes on beyond what spectators see every four years."
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 on July 22.
Spectators can also watch select Online Experiences live or on replay on Airbnb and Olympic YouTube channels. While many hosts will continue to offer their activities after the event ends, several will be once-in-a-lifetime Online Experiences available exclusively during the festival. You can see the whole Festival lineup at airbnb.com/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.
"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,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
While the festival will give fans unprecedented global access to connect with athletes from over 20 countries 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 Olympic hosts Japan.
“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. 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 Joe Gebbia, Airbnb Co-Founder.
For more information on the festival lineup, visit airbnb.com/festival. 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. 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.
*Final lineup for the Olympian Online Experiences may be subject to change.
