The pilot course of staff development "Sports management" within this programme started in Moscow at the beginning of December. It was attended by 22 athletes: Olympic medalists, World, European and Russian Champions prizewinners – from more than 10 regions of the country. Their candidatures were recommended by sports federations, the Commission of athletes in the Russian Olympic Committee, and approved by the Ministry of sport of the Russian Federation. Among students who received the full-time and part-time courses, there are such renowned athletes as: two-time Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics Elena Zamolodchikova, two-time Olympic Champion in synchronous swimming Elena Azarova, bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in Vancouver, national team coach in ice dancing Maxim Shabalin, European champion in track and field athletics Anna Alminova.
Distinguished Russian practical experts, professors of leading Russian universities and RIOU teachers conducted for participants of the course a series of lectures on key directions of sports management – from "Basics of sports law", "PR and marketing in sport" to "Sports venue management", "Development of sports industry in Russia" and other subjects. The course of studies included extramural practical classes, when students learnt to apply the received knowledge in examples and cases of managing sport school or venue. The educational programme of the course, certified by Rosobrnadzor, has been designed by the Russian International Olympic University, and its realization as well as accommodation expenses are provided by grants of Fund for Support Russian Olympians.
Director of the Fund Alexander Katushev said: "We have been studying the experience of different countries, where there are organizations similar to our fund. Because of these organizations Germany, France, China, South Korea have special operating programmes, which help renowned athletes who have completed their career to get a profession and find a new application in life. Elite sport requires commitment, and very often they lack time to get high quality education. I do hope that our programme will help athletes not only get additional education but also show them that even after completing their career they can realize themselves in a different field. It is important both for those who perform for Russia at the moment and for parents who are about to bring their children in sports schools".
RIOU Rector, professor Lev Belousov stated: "It is known that the first step from the podium is always downwards. I fact, athletes find it very difficult, after competitive practice, to apply their experience in different field and get a "peaceful" profession. I suppose that our educational joint programme with the Fund is a good instrument in social adaptation of young people who have completed their sport career. Certainly a two-week course of staff development for athletes will not solve all the problems at once, but it's just a beginning, the first attempt, and our educational activity in this direction will be significantly enlarged. We are considering it as an opportunity to achieve an important social goal".
All the participants of the staff development course, according to the results of final assessment, got RIOU certificates of education on the programme "Sports management".
