Today in Events: Airbnb Announces Olympics Sponsorship, American Portrait Gala Glittered With Stars, Ride Hailing App Juno Picks Up its Last Passenger

1. AIRBNB ANNOUNCES OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP: Home-sharing giant Airbnb on Monday announced it will sponsor the Olympic Games for a nine-year partnership, including both Airbnb Experiences and home-sharing. Set to conclude with the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, the deal was worth $500 million, according to some media outlets. Adweek: “This wouldn’t be the first time Airbnb partnered with a sporting organization. In 2018, the home-sharing service teamed up with the World Surf League, introducing more than 75 surfing-related Airbnb Experiences across its platform. The partnership with the Olympics would similarly center on Airbnb’s Experiences, according to Sports Business Daily.”

2. AMERICAN PORTRAIT GALA GLITTERED WITH STARS: The National Portrait Gallery’s third biennial American Portrait Gala on Sunday was a star-studded affair. Among the honorees were Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anna Wintour, and the members of Earth, Wind & Fire, who performed their greatest hits. Presenters included Michele Obama and late night television host James Corden, while Gayle King served as emcee and Hillary Clinton also was in attendance. The Hollywood Reporter: “Many presenters and recipients noted the progress the gallery has made in shifting the focus from ‘dead white men’ to include a diverse representation of people of all ethnicities, industries, and stages of their lives. Award-recipient and Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Frances Arnold took a moment in her acceptance speech to point out that ‘without diversity, we move down a path that’s a sure route to extinction.’”

3. RIDE HAILING APP JUNO CALLS IT QUITS: Though it reportedly was popular, ride sharing app Juno has ceased operations. Available only in New York, the service’s last day of operation was Monday, and customers were offered a $25 credit toward rides with Lyft, a competitor. The Points Guy: “The app blamed regulations that mandated a minimum wage for workers. New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission last year approved raising all ride-hailing drivers’ minimum wages to $17.22 an hour across all app-based car services and yellow cabs. In response, prices for the majority of rides into Manhattan will increase by a flat charge of $2.75 more per trip and 75 cents for group rides. Lyft and Juno filed a lawsuit in January to block New York City’s minimum-wage rules, which went into effect in February, according to New York Daily News. The lawsuit was dismissed in May.”