The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) in Sochi has announced that Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees, is the latest high profile lecturer confirmed at the inaugural Brand Building and Communications Programme for sports organisations later this month.
In addition to lecturing, Patrick Hickey and the EOC will sponsor two delegates to attend the course, one from NOC Serbia and one from the NOC of Ukraine. With the deadline for applications to the course now passed, this brings the total number of delegates to 2O, including, additionally, representatives from the National Olympic Committees of USA, Korea, Armenia, and Palestine alongside delegates from Zenit St Petersburg FC, Sochi 2014, the IIHF, the Hungarian Hockey Federation, the Russian Speed Skating Union and PROsport magazine.
Patrick Hickey spoke of his firm belief in this kind of initiative:
RIOU's Brand Building and Communications Programme will help sports organisations adopt a much more professional approach as to how they communicate with all the different audiences in sport. In the current economic climate, this will be essential in helping attract and keep new participants, fans, sponsors, social media followers and even volunteers. So I am delighted to be involved with such an important initiative."
Patrick Hickey joins a high level group of guest lecturers that includes Rene Fasel, President of the International Ice Hockey Federation; Igor Stolyorov, Executive Vice-President Marketing, Brand Management at Sochi 2014; David Eades, BBC broadcaster; and Alan Abrahamson, renowned sports journalist and member of the IOC Press Commission. The guest lecturers will present case studies and theory relevant to the syllabus that has been specially developed for the course.
Professional Lev Belousov, Chief Executive Officer of RIOU, spoke of how the course has been designed to focus on practical learning:
We are delighted and honoured that Patrick Hickey is bringing his experience and expertise to this course. I know that delegates will benefit from the cutting-edge theories and highly topical case studies from all the lecturers. From the basics of developing a brand, to use of the most up to date forms of social media, the course will cover everything a modern sports organisation needs to succeed in a highly competitive environment. The interactive methods of teaching will make it easy for delegates to apply what they learn to the practical work of their sports organisations."
Sports organisations looking for more information should contact: BrandCom2011@olympicuniversity.ru.
