RIOU announces diverse and talented scholarship intake for third MSA

The Vladimir Potanin Foundation and the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) have today announced the 20 students awarded grants to study on RIOU’s flagship Master of Sport Administration (MSA) programme for the academic year 2015/2016.

The successful candidates, who will take up residence on RIOU’s state-of-the-art campus in the heart of Sochi’s city centre in September, were selected after a competitive application process in which nine candidates competed for each place.

This will be the third edition of RIOU’s MSA and its objective remains as clear as ever: to train a new generation of managers for the sports industry, particularly the Olympic Movement. Typically RIOU’s MSA graduates will go on to work with National Olympic Committees, sports federations, organising committees, and centres of sporting excellence.

General Director of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation, Oksana Oracheva, said:

"This is the third intake we have been involved with and I am particularly pleased to note the growing number of countries participating in the programme and the growing number and high-quality of applications. This year there were nine applications for every place, and our experts faced a challenging task because every applicant demonstrated a highly impressive level of academic ability and strong professional experience.

"As in previous years, the successful applicants are a mix of experienced managers with work experience relating to the Olympic Movement and athletes, such as Christina Smith, a Canadian Olympian who competed in bobsleigh in the Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002.

"In addition, the diversity of the programme is expanding with students from 15 nations being represented this year, including Russia, Ireland, China, India, Uganda, and Canada."

Rector of the Russian International Olympic University, Professor Lev Belousov, said:

"The Olympic Scholarships Programme allows young professionals from different countries to get a quality education in the field of sports management, giving them a great opportunity to expand their professional horizons. A grant to study at RIOU is a unique chance to take control of their aspirations and make a real impact on the sports industry.

"Every successful scholarship candidate for our third intake has great credentials. The majority have been engaged in the sports industry already through organisations such as National Olympic Committees, or Ministries of Sport. But some of them have even set up their own businesses and sports schools. I am confident they will make the most of our MSA and go on to contribute to the development of sport in Russia and around the world."

Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees, which has put forward successful candidates for every edition of the Olympic Scholarships Programme, said:

"After a year at the Russian International Olympic University, the EOC’s MSA candidates return with noticeably enhanced skill sets and with a deep understanding of what drives the sports industry, how it operates and how they can succeed within it. The EOC has submitted a candidate to every edition of the MSA so far, and for the first time on this course we will submit two candidates. I’m very grateful to the University and the Vladimir Potanin Foundation for offering us these places. It is helping to push the EOC forward as an organisation and it’s a great boost to our candidates’ future careers."

Successful candidates for RIOU’s Olympic Scholarships Programme 2015/2016:

1. Brathwaite Ryan O'Neal, Barbados

2. Daou Joelle, Lebanon

3. Ganzorig Bayarsaikhan Alag aduut, Mongolia

4. Guerra De Leon Juan Antonio, Dominican Republic

5. Ji Youngmi, South Korea

6. Joyce David, Ireland

7. Jarwar Sajjad Ali, Pakistan

8. Kao Sz, China (Taiwan)

9. Koukouryan Lubov, Russia

10. Lepekha Ulyana, Russia

11. Medvedeva Daria, Russia

12. Nakintu Aisha Ashley, Uganda

13. Ng Kaho, China (Hong Kong)

14. Njie Yorro, Gambia

15. Sebata Emmanuel, Uganda

16. Singh Robin, India

17. Smith Christina, Canada

18. Stephenson David, Ireland

19. Shirov Anatoly, Uzbekistan

20. Yeh Chia-Jung, China (Taiwan)

For more information, contact:

Adelina Akhmetzyanova: adelina@olympicuniversity.ru; +7 495 956 24 30

Jack Zorab: Jack@jtassocs.com; +44 (0) 203 6672820

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