Below are the links to follow the proceedings of the 23rd Panathlon International Congress and the Panathlon International General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Ghent from 4 to 7 June 2026, via live streaming.
To encourage the widest possible participation, all sessions will be broadcast live on the dedicated YouTube channel.
A simultaneous interpretation service with subtitles in all languages will also be available via the Zoom platform through a single link valid for all days of the event.
The languages available will be Italian and English for the Congress sessions (4 and 5 June) and Italian, English and French for the General Assembly sessions (6 and 7 June).
LIVE STREAMING & SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION
Watch the live sessions on YouTube:
- 4 June 2026 – Panathlon Congress | Day 1
https://youtube.com/live/p85QRcSmQWI?feature=share
- 5 June 2026 – Panathlon Congress | Day 2
https://youtube.com/live/QyFAKiySG2Y?feature=share
- 6 June 2026 – Panathlon General Assembly | Day 1
https://youtube.com/live/RhtdrrGmYF0?feature=share
- 7 June 2026 – Panathlon General Assembly | Day 2
https://youtube.com/live/RhtdrrGmYF0?feature=share
Simultaneous Translation (all days)
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89614450445?pwd=hCheVYMpdi3jettnCdphH4Cshj8ZVV.1
ID Riunione: 896 1445 0445 - Passcode: 01856
EPAS – Strasbourg, France, 26–27 May 2026
An event dedicated to the theme “Young people’s perspective on safe and healthy sport” brought together 49 young people (aged between 19 and 29) from 32 member states of the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) on 26 and 27 May at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, France.
Representing PI at the event was Debora Quercioli, a member of the General Secretariat of Panathlon International, who took part in the activities and discussions scheduled in the programme. This session preceded the 19th Council of Europe Conference and the EPAS meeting, which was attended on behalf of PI by Past President Pierre Zappelli.
The young people gathered in Strasbourg shared experiences, ideas and recommendations on how sport can become safer, healthier, more inclusive and more respectful of human rights, particularly the rights of children. On 26 May, they took part in debates on these issues and the following day presented their contributions during the joint plenary meeting, as part of a session dedicated to integrating the youth perspective into sport. They also took part in two round-table discussions dedicated respectively to the safety of children in sport and the role of sport as a tool for improving the health of young people.
This youth perspective will play a key role in the preparatory work for the 2026 Ministerial Conference, particularly in the drafting of a resolution on the above-mentioned issues to be adopted by the Conference.
Safe sport is one of the pillars of EPAS. The Partial Agreement is committed to promoting safer and healthier sport through the “Start to Talk” project and its Network of International Experts on Safe Sport. The “Start to Talk” project supports national authorities and sports organisations in defining and implementing effective child protection measures, whilst promoting training and awareness-raising activities.
youth-perspective-on-safer-and-healthier-sport-at-the-epas-annual-plenary-meeting
Debora Quercioli and Pierre Zappelli, Past President PI
An online preparatory meeting was held on 28 May with the Panathlon International trainers who will take part in the MindFit VR International Training Course, scheduled to take place in İzmir, Türkiye, from 8 to 12 June 2026.
The meeting, chaired by Fábio Figueiras, aimed to introduce participants to the MindFit VR – Immersive Sports for Mental Well-being project, an Erasmus+ Sport initiative combining sport, mental well-being and digital innovation, and to share the main information regarding the training programme, logistical arrangements and planned activities.
The four Panathlon International trainers who will attend the training course are Teresa Rocha, Ilse Vanhoorelbeke, Rebecca Ripanti and Tunde Stift.
During the course, participants will explore the use of Virtual Reality and hybrid sport approaches as educational tools to promote emotional resilience, mental well-being awareness and new methodologies for working with young people. The training will follow an experiential and participatory approach, combining exchanges, practical activities, group work and shared reflection.
After the training, the trainers will contribute to the next implementation phase of the project, bringing the acquired skills back to their local contexts and supporting the development of activities dedicated to mental well-being through sport and digital innovation.
Panathlon International President’s Committee met online on 26 May 2026, starting at 12.00 p.m. to discuss a number of institutional, cultural and organisational matters ahead of upcoming international events.
At the start of the meeting, the minutes of the previous President’s Committee meeting on 5 March 2026 were approved. This was followed by reports from the President and the Secretary General, who updated participants on the main activities currently underway.
Among the key points of the session, particular attention was paid to the voting procedures for the General Assemblies in Ghent in 2026 and to the establishment of the Committee on the Verification of Credentials for the General Assembly in the Belgian city.
The Committee also addressed the issue of the ethical charters, to be presented at the Assembly, confirming Panathlon International’s commitment to promoting the values of sport and social responsibility.
During the meeting, the granting of sponsorships was also discussed, as well as the phenomenon of hikikomori, an issue of growing social relevance that also affects the world of young people and sport.
There was also an important update on the Panathlon Club Santo Domingo and the Caribbean Games, reflecting the association’s ongoing focus on international activities and the promotion of Panathletic values.
With regard to cultural activities, the Committee reviewed the programme of events planned for Ghent 2026 and the initiatives linked to the Flambeau d’Or, Panathlon International’s historic award.
In the final part of the meeting, organisational aspects relating to upcoming activities were addressed, and it was also announced that a new Club is being established in Croatia, a further sign of Panathlon International’s international growth.
The meeting confirmed Panathlon International’s strong commitment to strengthening its international presence, promoting the ethical values of sport and supporting wide-ranging cultural and social projects
The second Steering Committee Meeting of the Panathlon International coordinated YOULEAD project was successfully held online on 21 May 2026, bringing together project partners from across Europe to review ongoing progress and prepare the next phases of implementation.
The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to exchange updates on current activities, particularly regarding the advancement of the research phase and the preparation of the upcoming Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), which will take place in Podgorica, Montenegro, in June 2026.
Discussions also focused on coordination matters related to project management, communication and dissemination activities, as well as the continued collaboration between partners in ensuring the smooth development of project outputs. Particular attention was given to strengthening cooperation between work packages and supporting a coherent transition towards the next implementation phase of the project.
Partners also reviewed the current status of the YOULEAD communication tools, including the project website, and highlighted the importance of ensuring visibility for the project’s activities and milestones at both national and international level.
The meeting concluded with a positive outlook towards the forthcoming TPM in Podgorica and reaffirmed the strong collaborative spirit among consortium partners as the YOULEAD project continues to progres
Invitation from International President Giorgio Chinellato to the 23rd International Congress of the P.I., Gdansk, 4–5 June 2026
Brussels – 19 May
Brussels experienced a moment that was both symbolic, festive and rich in universal values. On the occasion of the United Nations Resolution proclaiming 19 May as World Fair Play Day, Manneken Pis, the most famous citizen of Brussels and an emblematic ambassador of folklore, carried out a unique and symbolic ratification of this international day.
Following this meaningful act, he also signed the Fair Play Manifesto, committing to actively promote these essential values. True to this commitment, he wore his special “World Fair Play Day” costume, conveying with humor and simplicity a universal message: Fair Play extends far beyond sport and becomes a value of respect, fairness and solidarity — truly everyone’s business.
“For once… I’m not just letting the water flow, but also common sense! Fair Play is like me: simple, sincere and for everyone. On this 19 May, I invite you all to play fair — with a smile, with respect… and a touch of Brussels spirit!”
A Brussels symbol serving a global message
Through this symbolic act, Brussels reaffirms its role as a capital of human values, where folklore becomes the messenger of a universal commitment.
Supported by the International Fair Play Committee (IFPC), Panathlon International and the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) — initiators and custodians of the spirit of the Resolution — this initiative helps spread the message of Fair Play to the general public and the international community.
International voices highlight the importance of Fair Play
The President of the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) Sunil Sabharwal stated:
“Securing May 19 as a UN-endorsed "World Fair Play Day" is a major milestone, but our mandate stretches far beyond a single day of celebration. Fair Play cannot be a calendar event; it must be an unwavering, daily standard practiced on every field and in every facet of life. As the sporting world faces evolving ethical challenges, we at CIFP are actively stepping up to drive this culture change and ensure that integrity remains a living reality every single day."
The President of Panathlon International (PI) Giorgio Chinellato emphasized:
“Education in values must become a constant, both in sports clubs and in schools. By continuously transmitting these principles, we build a more just and respectful society.”
The President of the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) Philippe Housiaux added:
“The initiative launched as early as 2013 by Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles, which I had the honor to chair at the time, has now gained global dimension. It brings together a community of more than two billion sports practitioners around the values of Fair Play.”
World Fair Play Day promotes fundamental values such as respect, integrity and solidarity, both in sport and in society as a whole.
Pictured: Philippe Housiaux, President of the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM); Sunil Sabharwal, President of the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP); and Giorgio Chinellato, International President of Panathlon International.
19 May marks World Fair Play Day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024 to recognise the universal value of fair play, rooted in the Olympic spirit and fundamental not only in sport but also in society.
On this occasion, the Presidents of the International Fair Play Committee (IFPC), Panathlon International and the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) will come together in Brussels to celebrate this important international event.
Manneken Pis, the city’s symbol and an iconic ambassador of Brussels folklore, will also pay tribute to the Day by wearing a costume dedicated to Fair Play.
Fair Play goes far beyond the world of sport: it is a universal value of respect, fairness, responsibility and goodwill, which concerns every person and every aspect of social life.
A new Manifesto has been drawn up for the occasion, through which the organisers aim to reaffirm the fundamental principles of Fair Play and spread its message internationally. Everyone is invited to sign and share it, thereby helping to strengthen a culture based on respect, loyalty and responsibility.
Panathlon International invites all Clubs to mark this day through press releases, meetings, initiatives and moments of reflection, bearing in mind that Fair Play represents one of the fundamental pillars of the Panathlon identity.
As International President Giorgio Chinellato emphasised:
‘Fair Play is one of the fundamental values of Panathlon International; it is a guiding principle for approaching sport and life with fairness, respect and responsibility. On 19 May, on the occasion of World Fair Play Day, we celebrate its deepest meaning and reaffirm our commitment to promoting it in every context.’
SAVE THE DATE!
Dear Panathlon Friends,
On the upcoming 19th (Tuesday) at 2:30 PM (Brazil time) we will hold another event within the Webinar Series, organized by the Panathlon International Commission for Culture, Research, and Education.
On this occasion, Paul Standaert, President of Panathlon International – Belgium District and host of the events to be held in Ghent, Belgium, on June 4, 5, 6, and 7, will join us.
The theme “The Journey to Ghent Begins Here” aims to provide an overview of all the activities scheduled for those dates.
Don’t miss it!
21 May 2026, 12:00 CEST
Online | Duration: 60 minutes
This webinar will explore how sport and physical activity can contribute more effectively to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), moving beyond broad policy frameworks toward practical and context-sensitive implementation strategies.
Bringing together international perspectives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and experts from Latin America, Oceania, and Africa, the session will examine how sport systems, leadership, and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen contributions to health, education, inclusion, and equity.
The discussion will focus on:
Translating global frameworks into measurable impact
Scaling sport and physical activity initiatives across contexts
Leadership and governance in sport systems
Lessons learned from regional experiences
Strengthening connections between research, policy, and practice
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/cb2b94bd-dd62-45af-b03f-258f047e4a06@64886f87-8ebc-4dfa-abe6-509d4f4c941e
The names of the panellists will be announced over the coming days.
We warmly encourage all members and partners to join us for this important discussion and to share the event within your networks.
We look forward to welcoming you online.