iSR Academy to Provide Free Higher Education to Olympians

11 | 4 | 2015

In a major boost to Olympians everywhere the International Sports Relations Foundation (iSR) has announced the launch of the iSR Academy, a new education programme aimed at helping the career transition of elite athletes.

The initiative is offering free academic training to retiring or recently retired Olympians who are interested in furthering their careers in the field of international sport business and administration and is the brainchild of Daesung Moon, IOC member and President of the iSR.

Following consultation with the Olympic Family, the iSR created an education programme which will help successful applicants make a smooth career transition following retirement from professional sport and in the process nurture the future sports leaders, journalists and sports administrators.

The Academy, which is run for Olympians, by Olympians, will be based in Incheon, Korea and will combine the Athlete Career Programme (ACP) with one year of intensive learning and education in order to provide elite sports stars the chance to gain the basic skills and knowledge necessary to plan their future careers and re-enter the workforce.

Adam Pengilly, double Olympian, IOC member and Director of the iSR Academy, said:

"For athletes to achieve their competitive goals, many years of dedication and hard work are required. As Olympic sport continues to be more professional, this dedication has had to further increase meaning athletes must often say 'No' to other areas of their lives in order to be successful in sport. Once their athletic career is over, this situation leaves a real challenge to transition into everyday life.

“At the iSR Academy we aim to help this transition through discovery of an athletes personal preferences and potential work streams, improvement of their theoretical and applied skills in a work-based environment, and by providing a platform and network to undertake an internship and gain valuable work experience. Then, life beyond the finish line need not be so daunting or difficult."

Adam Pengilly competed for Great Britain in the men’s skeleton at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Games before being elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission. He currently sits on both the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games Coordination Commissions and is a Vice-President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation. He holds a BSc in Sports and Exercise Science and a MBA in Corporate Governance of International Sport.

Joining Adam Pengilly on the iSR Academy staff is fellow IOC member and four-time US Olympic medallist in ice-hockey, Angela Ruggiero; IOC Member and gold medal winning New Zealand hockey player, Barry Maister; Australia’s Daniel Trenton, silver medallist in Taekwondo at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as well as other notable academics and professionals from the international sport and business sectors.

For more information on the iSR Academy and how to apply for a place before the 27 April deadline please click here: iSR Academy