On Friday, September 16, Sochi hosted the opening of the academic year at the Russian International Olympic University.

The event was attended by the head of the development department of FC Sochi Alexander Kim. Speaking to students, he emphasized the importance of the sustainable development of football: «The main task of our club is to build a system within the club. A vertical that will provide professional football players on an ongoing basis both for our main team and for other professional teams in the country. Key steps in this direction have already been taken, the foundation has been laid. Many years of painstaking work with children, education of football players, participation in tournaments are ahead. So that, ultimately, our own pupils play in our youth and main teams. Now all conditions have been created for the implementation of this strategy».

Cooperation between RIOU and Sochi has been going on for more than a year. Our employees are trained at the university for short-term and long-term programs, and students, in turn, receive valuable practical experience in the club.

In addition, two RIOU graduates already work at the club today: press officer Alexander Grudnev (MSA English-language program, 2016/17) and ticket manager Elizaveta Zaikova (MSA Russian-language program, 2016/17).