The course has been designed to provide further education for National Olympic Committee (NOC) members, those working for Russian and International Sports Federations, sports clubs, marketing agencies and in the sports industry in general.

It has been devised to create a new generation of effective sports managers with the knowledge and skills in strategic and operational management to successfully manage sports organisations, events and venues in any economic environment.

"RIOU is entering a new stage of development with the opening of admissions to our innovative and exciting English language version of the MSA programme," said RIOU chief executive Professor Lev Belousov.

"The first intake will be particularly prestigious for students as they will have the unique experience of learning through the preparations for and staging of the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The course draws heavily on Olympic legacy and covers modules including economics of sport and the Olympic Games; management, politics and the Olympic Movement; research in sports management; sport and the Olympic Games as a business; and sports marketing and communications.

RIOU has worked closely with leading Russian and foreign sports management experts to develop the MSA programme.

These include core RIOU teaching staff and professors from leading universities and research centres around the world.

RIOU chief executive Professor Lev Belousov says the first intake of students will have the unique experience of learning from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

The curriculum utilises both traditional and modern teaching methods including academic lectures and seminars, case studies, interactive classes and cascade education, and complies with Russian Ministry of Education and Science standards and international qualification criteria.

"We have high hopes for the MSA and many high-profile organisations and entrepreneurs are taking a keen interest in the programme," added Belousov.

"At the launch of the MSA during the London 2012 Games, the President of Interros, Vladimir Potanin, announced that grants will be provided for 20 of the first RIOU MSA intake.

"We are looking forward to presenting these soon."

The cost of the full-time, one-year MSA programme will be $30,000 (£18,780/€23,200) including tuition fees and on-campus accommodation.

Lectures begin in September 2013, with the first intake of students graduating at the end of July 2014.

Further details regarding the admissions process and the MSA programme are available here.

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