RIOU Students Approach End Of "Invaluable" Finnish Ski Resort Internship

Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) Rector, Professor Lev Belousov, has praised the key learnings and skills which RIOU’s Master of Sport Administration (MSA) students are developing during a two-week internship with Finland’s most popular ski resorts, which comes to an end this Friday.

The internships (which started on 23 February) have allowed students on RIOU’s second MSA course to apply their theoretical knowledge in the real-life working environments of popular ski resorts Tahko, Vesileppis, Vuokatti, Etelä-Savon Liikunta, and Ruka.

The internships are aligned with RIOU’s commitment to complementing student studies with the hands-on practical experience of organising, managing and promoting sports events. Last October, RIOU signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Savonia University of Applied Sciences, based in Kuopio, Finland, and the internship programme represents the first activation of this relationship.

Furthermore, whilst RIOU students are gaining important insights into the strategies ski resorts use to promote themselves to the domestic and international tourist markets, a group of students on Savonia’s tourism and hospitality course are currently in Sochi studying "Strategic marketing planning, communications and public relations" at RIOU.

Professor Lev Belousov said: "We are truly delighted that the partnership with Savonia UAS has produced such an invaluable international exchange programme. It will give both our students and Finnish participants a very diverse experience, which will undoubtedly contribute to their professional and personal growth. I look forward to speaking with RIOU’s students about their key learnings on their return and I wish to extend to our friends from Savonia best wishes for their future studies and careers - you have been exemplary student guests!"

Vadim Pavlov, a student on RIOU’s MSA course, who is participating in the internship in Finland, said:

"I had never done an internship abroad before this, so the whole two weeks has been very exciting.

"Working in such popular ski resorts has given me particularly great insight into the logistics and marketing behind snow sport activities. But it’s also been a great networking opportunity and interacting with real industry professionals has been eye opening."

Raija Maria Recola, a student from Savonia studying on the exchange programme in RIOU, which has been taught by highly-acclaimed British marketing expert Guy Masterman, said:

"The trip to Sochi has been an extremely exciting opportunity for us. Today sports tourism is becoming more and more popular in our country. The Russian International Olympic University boasts internationally renowned professors who focus on practical knowledge and case studies which can be easily adapted and applied in our own work. I’ve learnt so much at RIOU and I want to make the most of my final day here."

As well as this internship in Finland, students on RIOU’s second MSA have also undertaken placements at the Formula One Russian Grand Prix, held in Sochi last October, the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort and at Sochi’s Olympic venues.

For more information, please contact:

Adelina Akhmetzyanova: adelina@olympicuniversity.ru; +7 495 956 24 30

Jack Zorab: jack@jtassocs.com; +44 (0) 203 6672820

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