Olympic Sponsors Say Paris Games Provide Lift Tokyo Couldn’t

  • Paris Games are the largest single hosting event for Airbnb
  • Olympics provide sponsors with networking opportunities
Visitors on the Alexandre III Bridge during the Olympics in Paris, on Aug. 5.Photographer: Magali Cohen/AFP/Getty Images

Companies that forked out millions on Olympic sponsorships say the Paris Games are delivering the branding boost they were counting on, a relief after the pandemic-disrupted Tokyo Games.

“We didn’t have much that we could engage with and be supportive of in Tokyo, which was disappointing,” said Dave Stephenson, Airbnb Inc.’s chief business officer. In Paris, the company has been able to showcase its offerings, he said.