For several hundred million euros, AirBnB becomes one of the sponsors of the International Olympic Committee for 8 years. Between 2020 and 2028, the private accommodation rental platform will house visitors and families of athletes. She will be one of the partners of the Paris Games 2024. But the mayor of Paris is scandalous. After opposing the arrival of the oil giant Total among the national sponsors of the organizing committee of the Olympic Games in France, Anne Hidalgo alert the IOC President on the "risks" of sponsoring Airbnb, accused of increase rent prices and aggravate the housing shortage. Housing assistant at the City Hall of Paris, Ian Brossat is indignant about decision on Europe 1.
The company "does not respect the law"
"We are dealing with a company that does not respect the law," he said, recalling that there is a dispute between the capital and AirBnB. "This means that the case is before the courts," said the elected, surprised to see such a partner land with the IOC. "It is still strange to have chosen a company with which we are in litigation," he adds. In February, the mayor of Paris has in fact sued the platform - punishable by a fine of 12.5 million euros - for putting online 1,000 unregistered homes.
The IOC "is sovereign"
But since it is a long-term partnership, which does not only concern the Olympic Games of 2024, "the IOC is sovereign in the field", recognizes Ian Brossat. Nevertheless, he remains "determined to regulate the activity of AirBnB" in Paris. The mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has also committed to "immediately organize after the municipal elections of 2020 a referendum to define the right conditions of use of Airbnb" in case of elections.