Ivy Plasencia talks about her academic and professional background

Ivy Plasencia, a graduate from the USMP/FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management, talks about her, the role she hopes to play in Peruvian sports, and the challenges facing the country in this area.

What is your background and what are your links to sport, and football in particular?

I studied law at the Universidad de San Martín de Porres (USMP), then specialised in labour law, arbitration, sports law and sports management. I have been involved in sport since childhood as a table tennis player, and when I discovered sports law, I knew it could offer me a lot. Professionally, I have worked in institutions such as the Asociación Deportiva de Fútbol Profesional, the Instituto Peruano del Deporte, the Comisión Nacional Antidopaje and the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games in Lima. I am currently the Head of Sports Law at the Federación Peruana de Fútbol, where I am making a significant contribution to the growth of this branch of law.

Why did you participate in the USMP/FIFA/CIES International Programme?

When I decided to pursue a career in sport, I felt that I needed to understand the industry from a global perspective, not just a legal one. I wanted to understand how sport is managed around the world, and I found that the USMP/FIFA/CIES Programme was the best option to achieve this. It offers comprehensive training and a very valuable international network, both academically and personally.

Has the Programme been useful in your professional life?

Enormously! The Programme not only provided me with solid tools and knowledge, but also friendships and contacts that I still have today. In addition, the CIES community has continued to play an important role in my professional development. It has offered me opportunities to continue learning, opportunities for recognition and spaces to share my knowledge as a national teacher and international speaker. I really appreciate staying in touch with this large community that contributes so much to global sport.

What are the main challenges facing football, and by extension sport in Peru?

One of the big challenges is that the organisations that manage sport need to adopt a more comprehensive, long-term vision. By focusing on the urgent, we often neglect the essential. Working reactively takes us away from serious, sustainable planning, which ultimately has a negative impact on the progress of sport. It is also essential to continue creating spaces for specialised professionals who want to contribute to the development of sport in different areas. I am convinced that if we continue to bring together committed, visionary and dedicated people, we will be able to meet the other challenges that lie ahead.

A wish for the future of Peruvian sport?

That clean sport prevails. That means no doping, no corruption, no manipulation of competitions. An environment where the values of sport are at the heart of our lives, both on and off the field.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

What a difficult question! I am still thinking about the best way to continue contributing to sport. Let's say that in 20 years' time, I see myself as an experienced arbitrator, while continuing to offer legal and management advice to sports organisations. I would also like to run a non-profit organisation that promotes access to sport for girls and boys, and also encourages the visibility and participation of women in Peruvian sport.