The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) today used the launch of its Master of Sport Administration (MSA) to announce that 20 scholarships will be given to deserving students funded by the Foundation of Vladimir Potanin, one of Russia's leading businessmen and Chairman of RIOU's Supervisory Board.

The announcement was made by Vladimir Potanin during the VIP panel session which also included the President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov; HSH The Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco; Sochi 2014 Organising Committee President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko; IIHF President, René Fasel; the UK Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts; Podium Chairman, Geoff Petts; and Russian MP and Olympic champion, Svetlana Zhurova.
Potanin's announcement proved to be one of the highlights of the highly successful launch event along with the VIP panel session, to which the audience of graduates and many members of the Olympic Family were able to direct questions, and RIOU's CEO, Professor Lev Belousov's augmented reality presentation of the RIOU site. Attendees also heard a welcome letter sent from the Chairman of the RIOU Board of Trustees and President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. Senior figures, including Speaker of the RF Federal Assembly State Duma, Sergey Narishkin, were also in the audience, along with many other VIPs from the worlds of sport and academia.

The calibre of the audience meant that the event provided a great networking opportunity for many young academics looking to accelerate their careers in sport business and marketing. These aspirational students are exactly the people that the Vladimir Potanin Foundation hopes to support through their postgraduate education. Full details of the scholarship scheme are expected to be announced in the next few months.

Professor Lev Belousov, RIOU's CEO, commented:
"We are delighted with the success of RIOU's MSA launch, from the University's presentations and two MoU signings, to the VIP panel session and, of course, to the Vladimir Potanin Foundation's generous scholarship gift to the University of 20 scholarships to its first 2013 MSA students.

"This event has been all about what RIOU can offer over and beyond any other master qualifications in sport administration. All of us at RIOU are eager to begin teaching our first students who will choose RIOU, not only for its state-of-the-art campus, stunning location, and unique climate but also because of what RIOU can offer: a unique and challenging syllabus full of learning experiences passed on from the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, the opportunity to interact and work with international sports events on the University's doorstep, and financial support for those who need it."