Lausanne (AFP)
"Our partners respect the laws of the host country," said Thursday the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach about the partnership with the platform for private leases Airbnb which has aroused strong criticism in France.
The mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, campaigning for her re-election and who promised a referendum on Airbnb, wrote to Mr. Bach to "warn him about the risks and consequences" of having accepted the platform as one of the main sponsors of the Olympic Games, five years from Paris-2024.
The IOC responded to Ms Hidalgo that "all top (IOC) partners respect the laws of the host country," Bach said Thursday at a press conference in Lausanne.
For Bach, this partnership agreement "is complementary to the hotel offering and traditional accommodation".
Airbnb announced in mid-November that it was becoming one of the main sponsors of the IOC until 2028, a contract valued at 500 million dollars (450 million euros).
This announcement has angered hoteliers, who accuse the platform of unfair competition and decided in reaction to suspend their participation in the organization of Paris-2024.
Several disputes oppose the American giant to the City of Paris. In February, the mayor has sued the platform, threatened with a fine of 12.5 million euros for putting online 1,000 ads for unregistered housing.
© 2019 AFP