
Defenders in Football Underrated in the Transfer Market
Having analysed the statistics of players in the German Bundesliga, researchers from the HSE University Laboratory of Sports Studies found that the impact of defensive actions by players during a football match is much greater than contribution of such actions to their market value. The results of the study were published in the journal Applied Economics.

Referee Recommendation System Developed by HSE University and RFU Wins Award
An algorithm for selecting football referees developed by the Laboratory of Sports Studies at the HSE University Faculty of Economic Sciences and the Russian Football Union (RFU) has been named the Best IT Project in the Sports Industry by the Global CIO professional community. In order to recommend the most suitable referee for a particular match, the algorithm considers 30 parameters, including referees’ ratings, the match category, the venue, the need for rotation, etc.

Road of Kindness: More Than 400 People Participate in Charity Run
On September 4th, the Road of Kindness charity run, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of HSE University, took place in Gorky Park in Moscow. Participants in the event raised more than 220,000 roubles for the Konstantin Khabensky Charity Foundation; these funds will be used to help children and young people with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. A similar event was organised by the HSE campus in Nizhny Novgorod.

Professional Athletes Perform Better against Former Clubs, According to Research
A team of Russian researchers affiliated with the HSE University, RANEPA, and NES found professional athletes to perform better against their former clubs. At least in some circumstances, emotions seem to have a greater effect on their performance than knowledge of the opponent's tactics. The study's findings are published in the Journal of Behavioural and Experimental Economics and may be useful for coaches, sports managers, and bookmakers.

HSE University Holds School of Snow in Perm Region
On February 15–17, the Winter SOS (School of Snow) was held at the Zhebrei ski resort. The event was organised by the HSE Perm Tourist Club and the Student and Alumni Centre. In addition to learning to ski and snowboard, students from all HSE University campuses developed and defended projects focused on the development of domestic tourism in their regions. SOS participants shared their impressions with the HSE News Service.

Researchers from HSE University Compare Motivations of Volunteers at Winter Olympics in Sochi and Beijing
The Sochi 2014 Olympics volunteer programme involved 25,000 people. It was the first such volunteer project in Russia and was organised with support from the government, educational institutions and non-profit organizations.

‘In Contemporary History, World Championships and Olympic Games Were Canceled Only During World Wars’
At the 7th International Research and Practical Conference ‘Sports Management in the Face of Uncertainty’, organized by HSE University, industry and government representatives discussed the impact of the pandemic on the sports industry, its future, and the problem of doping.
‘This Sport Teaches You to Keep Going Despite Pain, Rain, and Icy Gusts of Wind in Your Face’
In early September, the HSE Rowing Club won silver medals of the international Golden Blades Regatta. HSE alumnus and HSE Rowing Club founder Anton Koshelev (’20, Faculty of World Economy and World Politics), who is now a Master’s student at the University of Munich, told the HSE News Service about the team’s creation, his hectic student-athlete schedule, and his dream of competing against Cambridge.

HSE University and the Russian Football Union Sign Memorandum of Cooperation
HSE University and the Football Union of Russia (FUR)have agreed to conduct joint scientific and technological research and events. The Memorandum of Cooperation and Collaboration was signed by HSE Rector Yaroslav Kuzminov and FUR Head Alexander Alaev. One of the most urgent projects will be the development of a system for appointing referees to matches.

HSE Scientists Create Second Season Calendar for Russian Premier League
Experts from the HSE Laboratory of Sports Studies at the Faculty of Economic Sciences have developed software to create the Russian Premier League’s season calendar. According to the League's management, this approach proved effective last season when special algorithms were first used.