Panathlon International

 Panathlon International Club Beausoleil-Riviera Française hosted the works of the Expansion Commission, the District Presidents and the International Board that met last 13th and 14th October at the “Centre Culturel Prince Héréditaire Jacques de Monaco” and the “José RIZAL” Hall in the Building Le Centre.

The first institutional meeting was the Expansion Commission. The members of the commission discussed the need to involve new countries and create more Districts to have a greater presence on the international scene, and at the same time the need to maintain existing members and clubs by involving new generations.

All the Districts, both in person and remotely, took part in the work of the District Presidents Committee, divided over the two afternoons of the 13th and 14th to allow the connected countries of South America to participate.

IB Member Luis Moreno was present on behalf of Peru. He presented the implementation of the Strategic Plan for PI. The Club of Buenos Aires (RA), online, and the Vice President of the Club of Lomé (Togo), in-person, participated as auditors. Before the beginning of the meeting, the participants were greeted by the mayor of the city of Beausoleil, Gérard Spinelli, who wished everyone a fruitful work. The Final Document has highlighted the efforts implemented by all the Districts for the development of PI and the initiatives aimed at young people and schools. It was also underlined the willingness to participate in the constitution of the Ethics Commission, a fundamental instrument for International Associations, especially of the Olympic Family, such as Panathlon International.

Also the International Board was complete, all present except the Treasurer Stefano Giulieri who was connected from home and Past President Giacomo Santini engaged in Slovenia for the establishment of the new club Primorska Slovenija. During the day of Friday 14th October, many were the topics discussed and, after the reports of the President, the Treasurer and the General Secretariat, they analysed projects and new ideas to be implemented. It was decided to repeat the Project "Club + sport for all" every two years, to continue with the Projects implemented with the Foundation (photography) and with the Foundation and FICTS (short films), to continue the project of supplying promotional material to the Clubs by the General Secretariat and to continue with the project "Fair Play starts again at school". The focus was on the possibility of being present at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a stand, to study new forms of support for athletes as stated in the Final Resolution of the Round Table "The Effects of Conflicts and Politics in Sport", to continue the collaboration with One-Ocean (sport and environment), to set up the PI Ethics Commission with the collaboration of one or more District Presidents and to realise a particular project involving athletes as PI Testimonials. The IB has also underlined the need to adapt PI Rules to the Statute changes approved during the Lausanne General Meeting.

All working sessions were intense and well attended, with everyone being satisfied. There are many convergences and objectives to work on in the coming period. Further insights will be published in the international magazine, due out before December.

Many thanks to PIC Beausoleil-Riviera Française President Bruno Catelin and District France Treasurer Gérard De Stefanis, whose presence, expertise, and cooperation made the stay of the PI representatives in the beautiful French Riviera even more enjoyable.

The next appointment will be in Cochabamba (Bolivia) where the South American Districts will meet to discuss the theme 'Panathletic Movement and Community'.

A new piece in the cross-border puzzle of Gorizia and Nova Gorica. But also of that of the Panathlon Clubs of Italy, Austria, Slovenia (and hopefully soon also Croatia), gathered in the Alpe Adria Sport project in its start-up phase.

This is the meaning of the official birth of Panathlon Club Primorska Slovenjia, which took place on 14th October in Nova Gorica.