Arrivederci Milan!
As the Milan sport management module entered its final stretch, the Olympic spirit seamlessly transitioned into the Paralympic Games, adding yet another powerful layer to the FIFA Master experience. What began in February as an immersion into the Olympic Movement evolved in March into a deeper understanding of inclusion, accessibility, and the transformative power of sport. A fitting highlight came with the final session of the SDA Bocconi Talks for the Olympic Movement, featuring Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee. His discussion, “United for a more inclusive world through sport,” served as an inspiring and humbling reminder that sport is much bigger than results on a scoreboard. To close off the Olympic events, students explored the exhibition “The Olympic Games™: A 3000-Year History” at Fondazione Rovati, offering a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of the Games. This was complemented by the “Sport is Culture” event, where Professor Dino Ruta presented his book ‘Colori Olimpici’.
Of course, many students couldn’t resist returning to live competition for the Paralympics, with para ice hockey taking the spotlight. Martin, Toni, and Léonie unsurprisingly added even more events to what was already a record-breaking personal schedule, attending USA vs Italy, this time joined by final project teammates Bianca, Eliú, and Daniel. Luca and Xav followed China vs Germany, while Kenny and Yuto watched Japan take on the Czech Republic.
Back in the classroom, academic life continued with the Sport Event Management module rolling on, while new topics in sport innovation took centre stage, covering leadership, entrepreneurship, and the ever-growing role of AI. All of this unfolded alongside another impressive lineup of guest speakers. A standout moment came with Damjan Rudež, former NBA player turned entrepreneur, who gave students a rare look into life after professional sport. Alongside him, students engaged with experts from across the industry, including representatives from FIBA, UEFA, ATP, the Giro d’Italia, and emerging properties like King’s League Italy. The final field visit of the module took students to AC Milan, giving the class a behind-the-scenes look at one of football’s most historic clubs.
March was also defined by shared experiences and community moments. We celebrated Guillermo’s birthday with a classic Friday night pizza party, while Luca and Zack marked theirs with a warm gathering of friends and family. The spirit of togetherness was further strengthened during Ramadan, as our Muslim community brought classmates together for memorable Iftar evenings throughout the month. There were also personal highlights across the cohort. Nata’s visit to Brescia Calcio marked a powerful full-circle moment, reconnecting with a club where he once had trials while pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Another group trip to Genoa for the match against AS Roma combined football with culinary exploration, particularly the discovery of authentic focaccia Genovese.
The final weekend in Milan added one last competitive chapter with the annual SDA Bocconi Futsal tournament pitting the FIFA Master teams against other Master teams from Bocconi. Both FIFA Master teams, the JP (named in honour of DMU stalwart James Panter) side and the President’s (named after the effervescent Jlayteh Sayor) team, fought their way to the final, setting up a fitting all-FIFA showdown. In a tightly contested match that ended 1–1, the title was ultimately decided by penalties, where the JP team held their nerve to claim victory! In the lead-up to the tournament, the competitive spirit had already taken its toll: during a friendly futsal match of the weekly Favela Masters a few days earlier, Alessandro, unfortunately, picked up what will go down as the FIFA Master’s first official injury of the year, a title no one was particularly eager to win.
And then, just like that, the final week arrived and delivered a few unforgettable moments: Yuto’s baby gender reveal, a truly special occasion shared by the entire class, and a lively evening watching Italy face Northern Ireland, a match that ended in celebration on the night… but, in true Italian fashion, with just a hint of lingering frustration over what would ultimately be another failed World Cup qualification.
As Milan comes to a close, there’s little time to stand still. After a well-deserved week-long break, our class will be on the move once again, this time towards Switzerland, where the next and final stage of the FIFA Master journey awaits.
By Rita El Idrissi Semlali - FIFA Master 26th edition student.
FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 13 times by SportBusiness.
Organised by CIES in cooperation with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).
"CIES, 30 years of impacting how sport is managed worldwide" & "FIFA Master, 25 years of Excellence in Sport Business Education"
