The Vladimir Potanin Foundation and the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) have today announced the twenty students awarded grants to study on RIOU’s flagship Master of Sports Administration Program at RIOU (MSA) programme for the academic year 2015/2016. The program goal is to contribute to the training of highly qualified specialists in sports management and to help forward the development of modern education in the sphere of management of sport organizations, sport events, and sport facilities.

The successful candidates, who will take up residence on RIOU’s campus in the heart of Sochi’s city centre in September, were selected after a competitive application process in which nine candidates competed for each place. 

General Director of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation, Oksana Oracheva:
“This is the third intake we have been involved with and I am particularly pleased to note the growing number of countries participating in the programme and the growing number and high-quality applications. This year there were nine applications for every place, and our experts faced a challenging task because every applicant demonstrated a highly impressive level of academic ability and strong professional experience. As in previous years, the successful applicants are a mix of experienced managers with work experience relating to the Olympic Movement and athletes, such as Christina Smith, a Canadian Olympian who competed in bobsleigh in the Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002. In addition, the diversity of the programme is expanding with students from 15 nations being represented this year, including Russia, Ireland, China, India, Uganda, and Canada.”

Rector of the Russian International Olympic University, Professor Lev Belousov:
“The Olympic Scholarships Programme allows young professionals from different countries to get a quality education in the field of sports management, giving them a great opportunity to expand their professional horizons. A grant to study at RIOU is a unique chance to take control of their aspirations and make a real impact on the sports industry.
“Every successful scholarship candidate for our third intake has great credentials. The majority have been engaged in the sports industry already through organisations such as National Olympic Committees, or Ministries of Sports. But some of them have even set up their own businesses and sports schools. I am confident they will make the most of our MSA and go on to contribute to the development of sport in Russia and around the world.”

Patrick Hickey; President of the European Olympic Committees, who put forward two successful candidates for the Olympic Scholarships Programme; said:
“After a year at the Russian International Olympic University, the EOC’s MSA candidates return with noticeably enhanced skill sets and with a deep understanding of what drives the sports industry, how it operates and how they can succeed within it. The EOC has submitted a candidate to every edition of the MSA so far, and for the first time on this course we will submit two candidates. I’m very grateful to the University and the Vladimir Potanin Foundation for offering us these places. It is helping to push the EOC forward as an organisation and it’s a great boost to our candidates’ future careers.”

Successful candidates for RIOU’s Olympic Scholarships Program 2015/2016:
1. Brathwaite Ryan O'Neal, Barbados
2. Daou Joelle, Lebanon
3. Ganzorig Bayarsaikhan Alag aduut, Mongolia
4. Guerra De Leon Juan Antonio, Dominican Republic
5. Ji Youngmi, South Korea
6. Joyce David, Ireland
7. Jarwar Sajjad Ali, Pakistan
8. Kao Sz, China (Taiwan)
9. Koukouryan Lubov, Russia
10. Lepekha Ulyana, Russia
11. Medvedeva Daria, Russia
12. Nakintu Aisha Ashley, Uganda
13. Ng Kaho, China (Hong Kong)
14. Njie Yorro, Gambia
15. Sebata Emmanuel, Uganda
16. Singh Robin, India
17. Smith Christina, Canada
18. Stephenson David, Ireland
19. Shirov Anatoly, Uzbekistan
20. Yeh Chia-Jung, China (Taiwan).