ORTEC offers its ninth Master in Sport Management scholarship this academic year to former top gymnast Boudewijn de Vries
Each academic year since 2009, ORTEC, one of the world’s leading providers of optimization software and analysis solutions, has offered a scholarship for the Master in Sport Management at Johan Cruyff Institute in Amsterdam to a top athlete or one of its own employees. Former top athletes, such as field hockey player Taeke Taekema and volleyball player Yannick van Harskamp, have studied the Master program over the past years.
Managing partner of ORTEC, Daan Boon, studied the Master in Sport Management in 2009 himself, which led him to the idea of supporting Johan Cruyff’s vision by means of awarding a scholarship. “His vision to educate the new leaders in sport management is inspiring. We are active in the sports world with ORTEC Sports and therefore we think it’s important to set up something sustainable. We also fully support Johan’s vision to support top athletes both before and after their sports career, by giving them the right knowledge for their professional career.”
“When I did the program myself, I found it fascinating to learn more about all the facets within the world of sport,” continues the Cruyff alumnus. “As a student, I appreciated being able to collaborate with top athletes and other professionals, and learn from each other. My biggest lesson was learning how to work together because, being an individualist, that was not always easy.”
This academic year, former top gymnast Boudewijn de Vries is the lucky one. Since early September, he has been studying the Master in Sport Management. After 10 years, the pommel horse specialist ended his international gymnastics career in June of this year. De Vries has often represented the Dutch Gymnastics Federation at international competitions, World Cups, the European Championships in 2015 and 2017 and the World Championships in 2014 and 2017.
According to Boudewijn, “During my professional sports career, I studied a bachelor’s degree in psychology, but my passion lies in sport and I want to continue participating in it. This Master gives me the opportunity to continue my passion for sport. Johan Cruyff had a special view on learning. By learning from professionals with a lot of practical experience and learning from other students, I want to broaden my knowledge about the sports industry. I also want to develop myself on a personal level and after this Master I will be a professional in the sports industry. I expect to fill my ‘backpack’ with the necessary knowledge and tools for a career in sport marketing and the current sports industry. This knowledge and tools in combination with my top-level sports experience will help me to make my own contribution in the sports industry.”
If all goes well, Boudewijn will graduate in June 2019.
STUDY PROGRAMS IN ENGLISH – JOHAN CRUYFF INSTITUTE AMSTERDAM
- Master in Sport Management (Start: September 2018, Amsterdam)
- Master in Coaching (Start: February 2019, Amsterdam & Arnhem)
