The scheme, which was launched in 2021 in partnership with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, offers athletes a $2,000 (£1,600/€1,800) travel grant to use exclusively on airbnb.com as they travel, train and compete.

In 2022, applications from athletes more than doubled and $1 million (£798,000/€908,500) was distributed to 500 Olympic and Paralympic athletes from around the world.

But now, with Paris 2024 on the horizon, and the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics two years beyond it, Airbnb has announced that the travel grant will be extended to up to 1,000 athletes in 2023.

This programme represents over $8 million (£6.4 million/€7.3 million) in direct support for athletes across the life of the partnership.

Applications close on May 25.

The Airbnb athlete travel grant can only be used towards stays in association with training, medical, or competition-related travel, and is not intended for non-sports-related personal use.

In 2022, 500 athletes representing 213 countries and 62 Olympic and Paralympic sports benefited from the Airbnb athlete travel grant programme.

Beyond the direct financial benefit of the Airbnb athlete travel grant, many athletes voiced how it helped them to be more competitive in their sport such as professional surfer Pauline Ado, the 2017 International Surfing Association world champion and seven-times European champion.

"In my sport, travel expenses for competitions are covered by the athletes," Ado said.

"The Airbnb [Athlete Travel] Grant really helped me to compete in multiple events including recently in Morocco where I finished on the second step of the podium.

"Airbnb homes bring many benefits while I compete as I can enjoy the comfort of a home and a kitchen to follow my specific diet, it also has more space for my equipment and allows me to be closer to my competition venues."

For French wheelchair fencing athlete Ludovic Lemoine support for accommodation during competitions has been a key factor.

His Airbnb grant took the pressure off travel logistics and gave him the opportunity to bring his mental trainer and family along, allowing him to be in both great physical and mental condition for his competition.

"For me, the road to Paris 2024 started in November 2022 with the selection process and I can’t afford to miss any competition," Lemoine said.

"As I have to cover all accommodation costs, having this grant allows me to fully live the competitions and to participate in the athletes’ group life at costs that are lower than the official hotel option.

"If it wasn’t for the grant I wouldn’t have been able to attend the first qualification event for Paris 2024 in Hungary - where I won the individual sabre championship bronze medal."