Olympic Scholarship Winners for Academic Year 2021/2022 Announced
The Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) and the Vladimir Potanin Foundation (the Foundation) have announced the results of the new edition of the Olympic Scholarhips competition. 20 winners from 17 different countries will study on RIOU’s flagship Master of Sport Administration course in academic year 2021/2022. The Olympic Scholarships Programme is a joint initiative between RIOU and the Foundation, which has run since 2013. It allows young aspiring professionals from the sports industry to obtain advanced professional training of the highest standard.
A total of 73 applications from 36 countries were admitted to the competition. The successful candidates will commence their studies at the RIOU campus in Sochi in September. Among them are renowned athletes — tennis, football and volleyball players, fencers, swimmers, gymnasts; sports managers from the National Olympic and Paralympic Committees and sports federations (for example, one of the future students has worked her way from volunteering at a hockey championship to managing the goaltenders of the national hockey federation); dedicated sports volunteers and civil activists (one of the winners has established the leadership movement for girls in Malawi).
RIOU’s international Master of Sport Administration course has received strong recognition in the world of sports business education, confirmed by an influential British ranking system. Since its inauguration, the MSA programme has provided training to students from 80 different countries. Its popularity and geographical reach have been expanding from year to year. This year’s cohort will, for the first time, include students hailing from Latvia, Lesotho, Saudi Arabia, Fiji and Japan.
RIOU Rector Lev Belousov said:
- “Cooperation with the Foundation has allowed RIOU to produce a whole lot of high-potential sports administrators, who are now working for leading sports organisations, and we are very satisfied with their professional success. The Olympic Scholarships programme is a unique opportunity to gain key professional knowledge, as well as first-hand experience in working at major sporting events. This balance is what makes RIOU such a unique place to study. Students will be learning from the RIOU faculty composed of best experts in the area of sports management. I am also delighted with the quality of candidates we got this year. Many of them have extensive experience and significant achievements on their record. This will make the upcoming academic year even more exciting for all of us”.
General Director of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation Oksana Oracheva said:
- “Over the years, the Master of Sport Administration course has been getting increasingly diverse in its cultural and other aspects. This year’s intake includes professional athletes and coaches, specialists in the areas of communications, management, education, tourism, economics, and even physics and biotechnology. The programme’s geographical scope, as well as the wide range of skills and knowledge, will provide an excellent foundation for effective teamwork. Besides, the friendships that the Olympic fellows usually build will help them to remove many barriers and open new avenues for communication. Many of the new students already have some volunteering or professional experience in working at different levels, from small clubs to national and international sports federations, Olympic Games and other major championships. They are highly motivated, eager to learn and open for collaboration and partnerships. We are convinced that their competencies, and their belief in the unifying power of sport, will contribute to strengthening confidence among sports organisations from different countries”.
Winners of the Olympic Scholarships Competition
Academic year 2021/2022
- Al Sudairi Moudy, Saudi Arabia
- Alimardonov Bobur, Uzbekistan
- Anand Vishal, Republic of Fiji
- Ataeva Daria, Russia
- Danclar Jermille, Trinidad and Tobago
- Hres Veronika, Belarus
- Judeika Janika, Latvia
- Kang Hwayoung, Korea
- Kateka Maya, Malawi
- Kuratova Ekaterina, Russia
- Konstantopoulos Ioannis, Greece
- Markova Marina, Russia
- Monaco Emilio, Italy
- Moya Bataller Helena, Spain
- Nabeshima Koki, Japan
- Ncheke Mateboho, Lesotho
- Picasso Ana, Mexico
- Polyakova Polina, Russia
- Vaksman Kamilla, USA
- Valkyova Katarina, Slovakia
