London (AFP)

The giant of the rent of private tourist accommodation Airbnb announced Monday in London that he became one of the main sponsors of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) until 2028.

This partnership, unveiled by the co-founder of the platform Joe Gebbia, comes as the company seeks to improve its image before a possible IPO in 2020.

Airbnb enters the closed circle of the big companies members of the program "top" of the IOC, which already hosts thirteen groups including Chinese Alibaba or American Coca-Cola.

The deal, the amount of which has not been disclosed, will cover a total of five editions of the Olympic Games, namely Tokyo in 2020, Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028 for the summer, as well as Beijing in 2022 and Milan-Cortina in 2026 for winter, the IOC said in a statement.

This is for the US platform a major marketing contract that should allow it to support its development and return a more positive image facing many controversies.

Popular with millions of tourists for its prices deemed attractive, Airbnb has attracted the wrath of many hotel professionals, who accuse it of reducing their market share and claim to the authorities a better control of the activities of the American company .

Several contentious oppositions actually currently the American giant to the City of Paris, less than five years of the Olympics in the French capital.

The partnership will include accommodation for visitors and families of athletes during the next Olympics, in an environmentally friendly way.

"This innovative partnership reinforces our strategy of ensuring that the effective organization of the Olympic Games is sustainable and leaves a legacy for the host community," said Thomas Bach, IOC President.

"With the support of Airbnb, we will also provide new opportunities for athletes around the world to generate their own revenue by promoting physical activity and Olympic values," he said.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky recently told the Japanese press that an Olympic partnership would "really help Airbnb become known" in Japan.

Based in San Francisco, the platform, emblem of the sharing economy as well as Uber, took off shortly after the 2007 financial crisis.

© 2019 AFP