On 21 June, the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) held a graduation ceremony for students who have successfully completed its Master of Sport Administration (MSA) and Master of Sport Management (MSM) professional retraining courses. RIOU’s class of 2024 comprises 67 students, including renowned athletes, Russian and international specialists in the areas of grassroots sports and volunteering, sports officials, coaches and educators. The new cohort of graduates will now enter the professional industry to meet the objectives of promoting elite sport and sport for all in their countries.
Following an established tradition, the graduation ceremony began with an address by RIOU Rector, full member of the Russian Academy of Education Lev Belousov. He said: “Nearly half of RIOU’s class of 2024 are accomplished athletes, and for the first time in RIOU’s history the graduating cohort includes as many as 13 Olympic champions and medal winners. Our diplomas give the graduates a strong competitive edge and allow them to take any position in the sports industry they want. But the main thing they will take from RIOU is knowledge and skills, as well as inspiring ambition and a drive to excel. I wish our graduates every success in achieving new career heights as sports managers.”
The graduating cohort were addressed by President of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov, Director of the Russian National Teams Training Centre at the Russian Ministry of Sport Georgy Brusov, Minister of Physical Education and Sport of Russia’s Krasnodar Region Serafim Timchenko, Executive Director of the Russian Olympians Foundation Alexander Katushev, Deputy Mayor of Sochi Yelena Kanyuk, President of the Russian Paralympic Committee Pavel Rozhkov, Yug-Sport CEO Mikhail Dryemov, Rector of the Smolensk State Sports University and member of the RIOU Examination Board Alexei Obvintsev, Professor at Brunel University, UK, Dr Vassil Girginov, Director for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development of the Krasnaya Polyana resort Lev Shagarov, Head for Development at FC Sochi and member of the RIOU Examination Board Alexander Kim, and other distinguished guests.
The class of 2024 comprises 41 fellows of the Russian Olympians Foundation, including a record number of Olympic champions and medal winners. Among them are Olympic champions Alexander Tretyakov (skeleton), Timur Safin and Adelina Zagidullina (fencing), multiple Olympic medal winners Maxim Vylegzhanin (cross-country skiing) and Yevgenia Tarasova (figure skating), UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup winner Vladislav Radimov, participant in two Paralympic Games Anna Bychkova (para triathlon), among other accomplished athletes.
The graduating class also includes 20 holders of the RIOU Scholarship from 11 different countries (Armenia, China, Eswatini, India, Malawi, Mali, Pakistan, Russia, Sri-Lanka, Uganda, Uzbekistan). All in all, since 2013 RIOU has provided training to students from 87 countries.
As part of the graduation ceremony, the Russian International Olympic University concluded a cooperation agreement with the Russian Kickboxing Federation (RKF), signed by RIOU Rector Lev Belousov and RKF Secretary General Vladimir Filatov. The agreement provides for joint work in training specialists to promote the sport, providing professional development to the existing RKF managers and administrators, and ensuring effective management and use of the relevant sports facilities.
At the end of the ceremony the graduates recited a traditional oath and posed for a collective photo with the guests.
