Russia: The FIFA/CIES Network welcomes Irina Baranova

The FIFA/CIES International University Network is pleased to announce the appointment of Irina Baranova as CIES coordinator for Russia. In her new role  she will cooperate with the Higher School of Economics who have been a CIES  academic partner since 2014.

Irina Baranova, who took on her new duties a few weeks ago, already has close links with CIES given that she attended the 15th  edition of the FIFA Master and graduated on  17th July 2015 in Neuchâtel. Prior to that, she completed studies in English translation/interpreting and in public relations at Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Professionally, Irina has previously worked in the public relations department of the Russian Football Federation. Here she  gained a great deal of experience in the framework of international competitions. She worked with the Russian national team as media officer during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and during the FIFA World Beach Soccer Cup in Ravenna/Italy 2011. Irina has also participated in various training curricula, in particular on the commercial operations of UEFA member federations.

In addition, the new CIES coordinator is an accomplished sportswoman who has played tennis for many years and with unfailing commitment. It is not surprising that one of her idols is Martina Hingis who delighted tennis fans in the 1990s. But Irina also admires sports legends from earlier times as her other sporting reference is to Lev Yashin, the legendary goalkeeper of the Soviet football team and of Dynamo Moscow.

Although sport has allowed her to express such skills  as discipline and patience, Irina  also finds time to relax with her other creative interests in  music and drawing: “The world of art is magical, allowing you to feel, imagine and finally understand the meaning of life. I also love to read books on philosophy, psychology and sociology. These subjects give me the confidence I need. They help me pursue my goals.”

In conclusion, Irina is delighted to be active in the FIFA/CIES framework: “I am happy and proud to use and share my knowledge of sport in my country. It gives me  great satisfaction to be part of the CIES family, particularly as  its training programmes offer an excellent opportunity to improve sport, by making it  better day after day.”