Panathlon International has granted its patronage to the report that will be presented during the World Congress of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP), to be held in Hong Kong from 8 to 12 December 2025.
Dr Elisa Deponte, FIV instructor and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, will present a scientific poster dedicated to the prevention of psychological distress and the promotion of well-being in young sailors, based on the work ‘Child Psychoanalysis and Defence Mechanism Scale in a Sport Context’, developed together with Cova and Lodetti under the direction of Prof. Giovanni Lodetti, Panathlete of the Milan Club.
The research, supported by numerous sponsors including FIV, FIS, the University of Milan, Panathlon International and other sporting and scientific institutions, is part of a wider project dedicated to the psychological support of young sailing athletes.
Participation in the congress reinforces PI's commitment to promoting a youth sports culture that is attentive to mental health, in line with the principle: ‘Investing in the mental health of young athletes means investing in the future of sport.’
A hybrid meeting between the executives of Panathlon International, the Italian District and the Governors was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of Panathlon International in Rapallo.
The meeting focused on the proposed amendments to the PI Statute, presented by President Giorgio Costa and explained to International President Giorgio Chinellato and the PI Board Members. Positive synergy emerged on several points, while other aspects will require further discussion. The proposals will in any case be submitted to the next meeting of the District Presidents' Committee and subsequently discussed during the International Board meeting.
During the meeting, the upcoming events of Panathlon International were also discussed, starting with the Symposium on AI and Ethics on 12 February 2026 in Milan, on the occasion of the Winter Olympics, and the events scheduled in Ghent (Belgium) from 4 to 6 June 2026, which will include the International Congress, celebrations for the 75th anniversary of PI and the Ordinary and Extraordinary Assembly. There was also time for an update on the activities of the Junior Clubs, which are particularly lively and recently held a meeting in Orvieto.
The meeting ended in an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual trust, confirming the common desire to continue on the path of growth and renewal of the Association.
On 4 November 2025, the online meeting of the Culture, Research and Education Commission (CCRE) of Panathlon International was held, chaired by Antonio Bramante with the participation of International President Giorgio Chinellato and the members of the Commission.
Among the main items on the agenda were: an update on the calendar of webinars for the second half of the year, organization for PI International Congress in Ghent (June 2026) and a proposal for a webinar dedicated to the Hikikomori phenomenon, focusing on how sport can help with this issue which is becoming increasingly topical around the world. President Chinellato highlighted the importance of addressing the topic with a multidisciplinary approach, involving Italian experts and international speakers.
President Bramante presented an illustrated report, sharing the next steps of the 2025-2026 programme, which includes the webinar on 24 November and other events in preparation for the Ghent Congress. The Commission reiterated its desire to link the training program to the organization that will lead to the major international event, which is part of the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of Panathlon International.
The Webinar Series promoted by the Culture, Research, and Education Commission (CCRE) continues, dedicated to exploring best educational practices related to fair play.
The next event, entitled "Teaching fair play in schools. Challenges, opportunities, and objectives: PWB best practices," will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
ZOOM platform http://bit.ly/webinarseries-pi
We look forward to seeing you there!
The SportAccord IF Forum, a key event for International Sports Federations, was held in Lausanne from 27 to 29 October 2025. This year's edition focused on the theme "The new global reality in sport – How to behave in a world that refuses to stand still", highlighting the role of sport in a constantly evolving world.
Over 400 leaders from 120 International Federations, along with exclusive speakers and partners of the IF Forum, shared experiences and insights on the main challenges facing the global sports movement.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener, President of SportAccord, emphasised how "the IF Forum represents a crucial moment for the leaders of International Federations, who are called upon to discuss common challenges during a period of unprecedented change".
Panathlon International was represented by its Past President, Pierre Zappelli, who actively participated in the proceedings and parallel networking meetings among international sports organisations.
The Lausanne Forum thus confirmed its value not only as a moment for discussion on the major issues of contemporary sport, but also as a privileged space to strengthen the network of relationships between organisations that share the same values of ethics, fair play, and harmonious development of sport.
The European Week of Winter Sport (EWWS) is a European initiative celebrating inclusive, sustainable, and accessible winter sport experiences for all.
From 1 to 8 February 2026, schools, clubs, municipalities, and organizations across Europe will organise local activities under a shared European movement.
Would you like to join and become part of this campaign?
Take part in the upcoming international webinar “Become an Event Organizer during the European Week of Winter Sport 2026”, taking place on Tuesday, 19 November (10:00–11:00 CET).
During this session, participants will learn:
• How to register their activities as part of the EWWS 2026;
• How to gain visibility at European level;
• How to align with EWWS key values: inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement.
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/aN38bGZ9RbiKrEpjpFKhxg
More information: https://wintersportweek.com
Together with FICTS, Hikikomori Italia and One Ocean Foundation to promote the values of sport, relationships and sustainability
On 26 October, in the splendid setting of the Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Verona, a conference organised by Panathlon International was held as part of RelazionEXPO, the European event dedicated to relationships as a driver of change, promoted by the Fondazione Relazionésimo ETS.
The meeting represented an important opportunity for discussion between the worlds of sport, communication, social issues and the environment, thanks to the collaboration with FICTS, Hikikomori Italia Genitori ONLUS and One Ocean Foundation.
After institutional greetings from Giuseppe Castaman, Director of the Relazionésimo ETS Foundation, and Dino Ponchio, President of CONI Veneto, the President of FICTS, Franco Ascani, presented the “SPORT MOVIES & TV 2025” Festival.
This was followed by Panathlon International President Giorgio Chinellato, who illustrated the movement's mission and values, emphasising the central role of sport as a tool for personal growth, inclusion and dialogue.
Alberto Bortolotti (Vice-President of Panathlon Club Bologna), Alessandra Rutili (Past-President of Panathlon Club Verona) and Antonella Salemi (teacher and mental coach) explored the theme ‘How the communication of the Olympic Games has changed’ and the transmission of Olympic values to young people.
Elena Carolei, President of Hikikomori Italia Genitori ONLUS, shared the experiences of families affected by the phenomenon of youth social withdrawal, emphasising the importance of sport as an opportunity for reconnection and rebirth.
On the environmental side, Riccardo Bonadeo, President of the One Ocean Foundation, together with Panathlete Marta De Manincor (Panathlon Club Mestre), presented the Charta Smeralda, a code of ethics for the protection of the seas and environmental sustainability.
To conclude the meeting, Valentina Marchei, Head of the Ambassador Programme of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, shared her vision for the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, based on inclusion, respect and team spirit.
The conference confirmed Panathlon International's commitment to promoting the ethical values of sport as a tool for building relationships, integration and responsibility towards society and the planet.
The latest issue of our PI Magazine has been translated with the support of Artificial Intelligence and subsequently revised by our editorial team .
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Panathlon International (PI) participated in the Annual Conference of IPACS (International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport), held on 23 October 2025, dedicated to progress in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance in sport.
During the meeting, the 2025 activity reports of the two IPACS Task Forces — Good Governance and Cooperation between Criminal Justice Authorities and Sports Organisations — were presented, together with the new IPACS Roadmap 2026.
Good governance and transparency
The Good Governance Task Force launched the “IPACS Sport Governance Benchmark & Guidelines Handbook”, a simplified version of the international model for ethical and responsible management of sports organisations.
The handbook, which is the result of collaboration between governments, sports organisations and international bodies, offers practical recommendations on issues such as conflict of interest, gender equality and managerial responsibility.
Throughout the year, the Task Force promoted awareness-raising and training activities, including online workshops and an event in Athens, organised with the Council of Europe and the Hellenic Olympic Committee, which led to the latter joining IPACS.
Synergies between justice and sport
The Task Force on Cooperation with Judicial Authorities, led by UNODC and the IOC, continued its work to improve international cooperation in the fight against corruption.
Key results included the preparation of a legislative guide on the prosecution of sports corruption cases and an international webinar involving 125 prosecutors from 60 countries.
Panathlon International's commitment
Through its participation, Panathlon International confirms its commitment to promoting ethical values and transparency in sport, in line with IPACS's mission.
PI will continue to support dialogue and cooperation between institutions for an increasingly honest and responsible sporting environment.
On 14 October 2025, the first webinar of the joint European Union - Council of Europe project entitled ‘Training and development of Para sport coaches, referees and managers’ took place, as part of the initiative ‘Sport For All: Promoting Inclusion and Combating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities’.
Alexandros Brousiakis, representative of Panathlon International, attended the meeting as an observer and drew up a detailed report on the content discussed.
The ‘Sport For All’ project (March 2025 - August 2026) aims to promote a more inclusive sports culture by combating discrimination and barriers that still limit the participation of people with disabilities and encouraging welcoming and safe sports environments for all.
The official project page can be found at the following link: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/sport-for-all
The webinar, held in English, brought together researchers, institutional representatives, international organisations, sports federations and grassroots operators – including coaches, referees and managers – to share experiences and good practices, present research and discuss how to bridge the gap between policies and local realities.
The official project page can be found at the following link: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/sport-for-all
The webinar, held in English, brought together researchers, institutional representatives, international organisations, sports federations and grassroots operators – including coaches, referees and managers – to share experiences and good practices, present research and discuss how to bridge the gap between policies and local realities.
The proceedings were opened by Stanislas Frossard, Head of the Sport Division and Executive Secretary of EPAS at the Council of Europe, who recalled that sport must be “ethical, inclusive and safe, not only in words but also in deeds”.
Among the most significant speeches were those by Philipp Müller-Wirth (UNESCO), Apolline Poas (triathlon referee), Allan Dineen (University of Limerick), Miroslaw Krogulec (Special Olympics Europe Eurasia), Päivi Tolppanen (Finnish Paralympic Committee) and Ivo Quendera (European Paralympic Committee).
All emphasised the need to invest in training and networking to make sport increasingly inclusive, accessible and respectful of diversity.
As Alexandros Brousiakis' report shows, the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening the link between political and institutional commitment and everyday practices, promoting cooperation between grassroots sports organisations and international bodies.
A message that resonates deeply with the values of Panathlon International, which has always promoted inclusion and respect in sport.