Lausanne (Switzerland)- The Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) has appointed Airbnb co-founder and Chairman of Airbnb.org Joe Gebbia as the newest member of its Board. Launched in September 2017, the ORF aims to support the protection, development and empowerment of displaced young people through sport, 365 days a year.
With IOC President Thomas Bach as Chair and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi as Vice-Chair, the ORF’s Board consists of experienced individuals from both the Olympic Movement and the UNHCR, as well as refugees and other government and private sector representatives, who all share the dream of building a society where everyone belongs.
Gebbia has extensive experience supporting refugees around the world. He is a USA for UNHCR’s Advisory Council member, composed of influential business leaders and philanthropists advising on new strategies, tactics, and connections to address the global refugee crisis. Gebbia has also travelled with Malala Yousafzai to Kenya and Rwanda to work on girls’ education in refugee camps as an engaged member of the Malala Fund Leadership Council.
“We are delighted to welcome Joe Gebbia to the Board of the Olympic Refuge Foundation,” said President Bach. “Joe brings a wealth of expertise and creativity. He has been instrumental in bringing the IOC’s partnership with Airbnb to life and ensuring that refugee athletes were included in the initiatives specifically designed for athletes before and during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. We look forward to having him on the Board.”
“I’ve partnered with the Olympic Refuge Foundation for years, and it’s an honour to join their board officially. Their work to inspire hope in young displaced people is life-changing,” said Gebbia.
This announcement comes after Airbnb.org, Gebbia’s brainchild non-profit, said it would offer free, short-term housing to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine. Six months after announcing its commitment to provide free, temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees, Airbnb.org met that goal and extended it with the hope of providing housing to another 20,000 refugees around the world. Gebbia’s donation of USD 5 million helped kick start Airbnb.org’s Refugee Fund in June 2021.
The Olympic Refuge Foundation aims for one million young people affected by displacement to access safe spots by 2024. The ORF has already reached tens of thousands of young people affected by displacement through its programmes across eight countries.
About Airbnb
Since becoming a Worldwide Olympic Partner in 2019, Airbnb has worked with the IOC on several programmes to empower the athlete community. Through Online Olympian Experiences, the first joint IOC and Airbnb initiative launched in early 2020, fans were given a unique opportunity before and during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to support and connect with some 200 athletes. The Online Experiences provided a way for athletes to share their skills and earn meaningful income. The participation of many refugee athletes in the programme also benefited from raising awareness about the global refugee crisis.
