The Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation "Russian International Olympic University" (RIOU) was established on 21 October 2009 under the Memorandum of Understanding between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee and the Russian Olympic Committee, and under a decree of the Russian Federation No 774. The founders of the University are the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and Interros private investment company.

The Chairman of the RIOU Board of Trustees is the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

RIOU is the world's first university dedicated to sports business education, offering unique programmes infused with Olympic values and experiences. RIOU's activities concentrate on training specialists in sports management for the Russian and international sports industry, and the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. The University's educational programmes cover the main aspects of sports education: venue and infrastructure management, competitions, mass communications, diplomacy and administration, and career management.

In 2010 RIOU launched more than 10 special training courses for the Sochi 2014 staff. Since 2011 the University has run professional advancement programmes for the Russian regional sports leaders, «Olympstroy» State Corporation staff and Sochi city administration.

In 2013 RIOU has launched its ground-breaking Master of Sports Administration (MSA) course which is aimed at experienced executives in the sports industry who are eager to improve their understanding of sports business, arm themselves with best in class tools and practices, and accelerate their career development.

Among RIOU's teachers and professors are renowned Russian and international experts in sports management. The University is aimed at the development of systematic partnerships with leading Russian and foreign universities. Our current partner list includes: University of Applied Sciences Kufstein (Austria), Coventry University (UK), Brunel University (UK), University of East London (UK), Sheffield Hallam University (UK), IPC Academy (UK), World Academy of Sport (UK), Olympic Studies Centre at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain), Capilano University (Canada), Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow University of Industry and Finance.

In 2011 RIOU launched a unique publishing programme which includes a quarterly popular science periodical «RIOU Herald», as well as the «RIOU Library» series consisting of memoirs, archive materials, research works on Olympic history and philosophy, and the best-selling Russian and foreign books on sport and Olympic education.

RIOU educational activities are currently based in Sochi where the RIOU modern brand-new campus facilities are located. RIOU head office is situated in Moscow.

Russian International Olympic University is a landmark project and the main element of the Sochi 2014 Games humanitarian legacy. RIOU graduates will form a new generation of effective sports managers armed with knowledge and skills to successfully manage sports organisations, events and venues in any economic environment. The range of their career opportunities will include structures of the Russian and international Olympic and Paralympic Movements; state and local governing bodies; sports federations and clubs; sports media; sports marketing companies and manufacturers of sports goods.

RIOU Rector is Professor Lev Belousov.