By Duncan Mackay

Up to 20,000 rooms in private houses and accommodation will be available during Rio 2016 following a deal with Airbnb ©Getty ImagesRio 2016 has signed a deal with online hospitality provider Airbnb to help spectators find accommodation in private houses and apartments during the Olympics and Paralympics, they announced today.  


The San Francisco-based company will supply 20,000 rooms during the first Games in South America as the Official Alternative Accommodations Service provider for Rio 2016. 

Airbnb, which boasts 17 million users worldwide, is already popular with Brazilians and foreign visitors who wish to rent a room in an owner's house, undercutting the price of a hotel room.

It is the first arrangement of its kind at an Olympics and Brazilian officials hope it will help ease pressure after the International Olympic Committee expressed fears over the ability of Rio 2016 to find 40,000 hotel rooms in time for the Games. 

Airbnb launched operations in Brazil in 2012 with 3,500 listings and now claims to offer more than 45,000 listings in the entire country.

"Airbnb has proven to be a wonderful choice in allowing us to increase supply," said Carlos Nuzman, President of Rio 2016. 

"We are aware of Airbnb's capacity in Rio and understand the impact that partnering with the leader in alternative accommodations will do for visitors coming to experience Rio and the Games.

"With the expectation of hosting people from Brazil and around the world, who are coming to Rio to cheer on the athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees, we are delighted to embark on this partnership with Airbnb."

Airbnb used social media to announce their new status as the Official Alternative Accommodations Service provider for Rio 2016 ©AirbnbAirbnb used social media to announce their new status as the Official Alternative Accommodations Service provider for Rio 2016 ©Airbnb

The company, whose investors include Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher, is valued at $20 billion (£13.5 billion/€18 billion), despite having been founded only in 2008. 

"We are thrilled to be participating in the first South American Games that celebrates sportsmanship and brings people together from all over the world," said Christian Gessner, Airbnb's manager for Brazil.

"Cariocas are great hosts by nature and are ready to show the world once again the true meaning of Brazilian hospitality.

"We will work closely together with our Airbnb host community in Rio to ensure everyone feels right at home, while maximizing the trust Rio 2016 has put in us."

Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb, claimed it would give Brazilians the opportunity to show how friendly they can be.

"With visitors traveling from around the world, Rio residents get to serve as diplomats to their home country, hosting a global audience with real, authentic Brazilian hospitality," he said.

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