The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) will launch its inaugural Master of Sport Administration (MSA) course in London on Monday 30 July, 2012 – Day 4 of London 2012 – and registration for delegates to attend the launch event officially opened today: www.riou-msa-launch.com.
The Russian International Olympic University is based in Sochi - the host city for the next Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - and is the world's first university dedicated to sport business education. The MSA course will be the centrepiece of RIOU's global offering which is why the London 2012 Games are the ideal occasion to showcase the MSA to the Olympic and academic worlds.
The CEO of RIOU, Professor Lev Belousov, said of the launch: "We are delighted that RIOU has the opportunity to unveil its new and innovative MSA syllabus during the London 2012 Games. Since its creation in 2008, RIOU has enjoyed support from the IOC and the whole of the Olympic Movement. I look forward to hearing the views of our high profile panellists from the worlds of politics, business and international sport."
The invited panellists (several of whom have already confirmed) include President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov; Sochi 2014 Organising Committee President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko; leading Russian businessman and Chairman of RIOU's Supervisory Board, Vladimir Potanin; IIHF President and IOC member, René Fasel; the UK Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts; and Podium Chairman, Geoff Petts.
René Fasel commented: "I am pleased to see RIOU growing and attracting international interest. Developing the sports managers of the future is vital to the survival and success of international sport and is an area I am heavily engaged with."
Dmitry Chernyshenko added: "The establishment of RIOU was one of the key pillars in Sochi 2014's legacy commitment to the international Olympic Movement. We keep our promises. We are ready to welcome the Olympic world to Sochi to test the Sochi 2014 Olympic spirit as well as get best in class sport business education."
For more information, please contact:
Jon Tibbs: jon@jtassocs.com; +44 7909 974 727
Dimitri Boschmann: dboschmann@olympicuniversity.ru; +7 967 164 9164
Alex Inglot: a.inglot@jtassocs.com; +44 7557 435 392
Notes to Editors
Places for delegates interested in attending this free launch event for RIOU's MSA course are limited, so those looking to register interest are being advised to do so early.
Full details of the event can be found on www.riou-msa-launch.com.
