Santiago Ramallo, an alumnus of the FIFA/CIES Executive Programme (Curso de Derecho y Management del Deporte) organised in cooperation with Universidad Católica Argentina (class of 2006), has played a key role in world rugby for several years now. Here is a brief summary of a great success story.
Before reaching the highest levels of international rugby, Santiago Ramallo played with the Club of San Isidro, a municipality near Buenos Aires, and coached several junior teams. Although he describes himself as an “average player”, he has always unfailingly supported the sport he loves.
After moving from Argentina to Brazil, Santiago joined the Local Organising Committee of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, more specifically tasked with managing the rugby tournament (sevens rugby) for the prestigious event. His role was all the more important given that rugby was returning to the Olympic family for the first time following a 92 year absence since its last appearance at the Paris Games in 1924. He therefore had to ensure that the “comeback” of rugby would be a great success. And it was indeed a remarkable tournament which ended at the Deodoro Stadium in Rio with victory for Fiji over England in the men’s competition and for Australia over New Zealand in the women’s tournament. The men’s victory for Fiji was made all the more significant as it was Fiji’s first ever medal at an Olympic Games.
Santiago, who is also the Regional Development Manager for South America within World Rugby, has declared his optimism for the gradual growth of rugby, in particular in countries such as Brazil where the sport is still little known.
Congratulations to Santiago on his success and which continues to make the FIFA/CIES International University Network proud.