RIOU has a conventional university structure – up  to a point. The majority of our time in class is spent listening and learning about the different aspects and practices of sport administration with one of RIOU's expert professors. But there are all sorts of visitors coming to see us who pass on their experience and knowledge. We were so proud when IOC President Thomas Bach decided to visit in October and very grateful for the time he spent answering our questions. One student asked Mr Bach about career prospects and he told us all that, after graduating from RIOU, the doors of the IOC will be open for us to apply for a job there. That information has made us all even more dedicated to our studies! We are a motivated group anyway and have a lot of ideas about how to change sport administration for the better. We feel like we can fly and our lecturers encourage our ambitions; and maybe help us keep our feet on the ground at times too.

Whilst studying at RIOU I have been aware that absorbing all this knowledge is only the first step of our MSA course. The second step is being part of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Every day I see the city changing.  In November, we went on a trip to Krasnaya Polyana, which hosts the Mountain Cluster for the Games. We returned in December and it had grown so much. It showed me how fast things are progressing and how hard the organisers are working. The Olympic Games are the most important sports event in the world. I was lucky enough to compete in three editions, and they make athletes feel very special indeed. I cannot wait to play my part as an organiser and gain an insight into how one is actually run. RIOU students will be working across 12 different Games departments, so we're really going to be at the heart of Sochi 2014.