The Vladimir Potanin Foundation's Expert Council has selected the first 20 individuals who will receive full scholarships to study at the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The successful scholarship recipients will be enrolled in RIOU's unique English-speaking Master of Sport Administration (MSA) programme. The Foundation will provide each scholar with an individual donation of around one million rubles, which will cover the cost of their education and accommodation on the University's brand new campus. The Foundation is keen to encourage and stimulate innovative practices in education, and the MSA programme is the first programme in sport management to be taught at such a high level in Russia.

Larisa Zelkova, The Vladimir Potanin Foundation Director General, said:

"We are confident that RIOU will become a centre of training for a new generation of sports managers; not only for Russian students but for students from all nations that respect the Olympic values. Representatives from 13 countries have received grants from the Foundation to pay for their education. These people are not dreamers or theorists, but specialists whose life is closely connected with sport. For example, Olympic swimming gold medallist, Otylia Jedrzejczak, is one of the students granted a scholarship. This year's intake is really special and exceptional. Thanks to RIOU's strong relationship with the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, students will have a unique chance to combine theory with practice as they will be given the opportunity to experience first-hand what goes into organising and staging next year's Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. RIOU is a strategic project which is not limited to one competition or one country; the contribution of our Foundation is for the long term development of Russian sport and the world's Olympic Movement."

Rector of RIOU, Professor Lev Belousov added:

"RIOU is the first, and only, Olympic university in the world where representatives from all continents will study and teach. Today, many countries are looking for new generation sports managers who have knowledge of the most up-to-date management practices and who can utilise those practices effectively. The Foundation's generous scholarships will enable students of RIOU – people with a background in sport – to use this knowledge to evolve their careers and develop their countries' sports industries."

The MSA programme is designed for representatives of National Olympic Committees, international and national sports federations, sports clubs, agencies, consultancies and other organizations working in the sports sector. The programme was designed by Russian and international experts, who, along with professors from leading universities and Olympic research centres, are key members of the University's academic teaching staff. 

Vladimir Potanin Foundation Scholarship Recipients:

1. Avetissian Areg (Armenia)
2. Akhtyrskaya Anastasia (Russia)
3. Beliaev Ivan (Russia)
4. Chipatiso Abigail (Zimbabwe)
5. Fessenko Olesia (Russia)
6. Grenaderova Natalia (Russia)
7. Hopp Evelyn Miriam (Germany)
8. Jedrzejczak Otylia (Poland)
9. Kokurin Alexey  (Russia)
10. Martins Natalie Yomura (Brazil)
11. Martirossian Anna (Armenia)
12. Menéndez Jorge Mario Marroquín (Guatemala)
13. Ngwigwa Obakeng Ambrose (Botswana)
14. Oh Hyoungkeun (Republic of Korea)
15. Pathirathnalage Wijeratne llanga (Sri Lanka)
16. Patrakov Alexey (Russia)
17. Perederiy Vera (Ukraine)
18. Singh Vijay (India)
19. Ssemmanda Joseph Collins (Uganda)
20. Zaykov Igor (Russia).

The Expert Council also made a decision to form the list of candidates to get donations in case of non-appearance or refusal of any of the winners:

1. Prut Olga (Russia);
2. Pomerantsev Andrey (Russia);
3. Shvetsova Elena (Russia);