At the first international “Professional Training of Sports Managers” online conference hosted by the All-Russian Volunteer Organization “Sport Russia”, one of the main topics was Olympic education.
Following the launch of the conference, Sochi 2014 Educational Department Director Andrey Avanesov answered questions from participants across the world, including distance-learning technology for work in the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee and the specialist courses that will be offered at the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU), as well as many other projects.
According to a Sochi 2014 press release Olympic education is one of Sochi 2014’s key activities. The start of the organizing committee’s full education program will coincide with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
The inaugural academic courses at the RIOU will also begin in early 2010 with the construction of the RIOU buildings at the centre of Sochi 2014’s Olympic Park, due for completion in 2012.
The first cohort of students at the RIOU will participate in preparations For Sochi 2014 and become the first members of the international community of alumni. The university’s “Olympic Solidarity” program will provide a variety of courses for representatives of all 205 National Olympic committee’s, said the press release.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO said, “as the organizers of Russia’s first Winter Games we have several important tasks. In particular we will play a major role in developing a new generation of sports managers who will not only be highly skilled professionals, but also advocates of the Olympic ideals and values in their own countries.
“The Russian International Olympic University is a strategic project. Russia’s commitment to host an innovative and inspirational Winter Games can only be achieved through a sustained investment in human capital which will be delivered through the RIOU”.
Meanwhile Sochi 2014 has initiated the signing of the “Declaration of Universities in Support of Sochi 2014” to ensure the cooperation of universities across Russia in implementing the program of Olympic education. Nineteen Russian universities have already signed the declaration.
