During the Panathlon International General Assembly, held in Ghent as part of the celebrations for the Movement’s 75th anniversary, two important new Charters of Ethics were approved: the Charter of Respect, proposed by Panathlon Club Como, and the Charter of Women’s Rights in Sport, proposed by District Brazil.
This marks a significant step forward in Panathlon International’s commitment to promoting ethics, sporting culture and the protection of the fundamental values of sport.
The Charter of Respect highlights the importance of behaviour based on fairness, responsibility and consideration for others, both within and outside the sporting context.
The Charter of Women’s Rights in Sport, meanwhile, reaffirms the need to promote equal opportunities, dignity, participation and recognition of the role of women in every aspect of sporting activity.
With the approval of these documents, Panathlon International reaffirms its commitment to upholding a sport capable of educating, including and contributing to the growth of the individual and society.
On Saturday 6 June 2026, the 52nd Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly of Panathlon International took place.
Representatives of the Clubs, Districts and international bodies gathered at a particularly significant moment in the life of Panathlon International, called upon to discuss the Movement’s main institutional and organisational policies.
The ordinary session provided an important opportunity for participation and discussion, confirming the Assembly’s central role as a forum for synthesis, accountability and collaboration among the various components of the international Panathlon community.
In the afternoon, the Extraordinary General Assembly was held, dedicated to examining the proposed amendments to the Statutes of Panathlon International, as part of a process aimed at supporting the Movement’s evolution and strengthening its action at an international level.
The International Congress of Panathlon International witnessed one of its most significant moments in the late afternoon of Friday 5 June, at the prestigious Ghent Town Hall, with the presentation ceremony for the 1st Jacques Rogge Award.
The award, established to highlight the social impact of sport among the younger generations, takes on particular significance in the year of Panathlon International’s 75th anniversary, confirming the Movement’s commitment to promoting the ethical, educational and social values of sport.
In the presence of the Royal Family, local authorities and representatives of Panathlon International, the Prize was awarded to the international NGO Generations for Peace, in recognition of its global work in conflict resolution, building dialogue and promoting cooperation among young people through sport.
The ceremony marked the culmination of the Congress, offering a moment of great symbolic and institutional significance, in the spirit of Jacques Rogge’s legacy and the power of sport as a tool for peace, growth and bringing people together.
The first day of the 23rd Panathlon International Congress has opened in Ghent, dedicated to the theme “Panathlon International: 75 Years Inspiring Unity Through Sport”, with a packed programme of events and two panel discussions focusing on sports diplomacy, governance and the role of the younger generation.
In today’s world, sport no longer represents merely competition, results or medals, but is increasingly establishing itself as a tool for connection, dialogue and international cooperation. This is the strength of sports diplomacy: speaking a universal language capable of transcending borders, cultures, religions and political affiliations, creating opportunities for encounter and collaboration even where institutional dialogue faces greater difficulties.
In this context, Panathlon International reaffirms its role as a Movement committed to promoting ethics, fair play, respect and the values of sport as concrete tools for personal growth, social development and the building of bridges between peoples and nations.
The first panel brought together Antonio Bramante, Chair of the Culture, Research and Education Commission of Panathlon International, Maria Beatriz Ferreira, Vice-Chair of ICSSPE, Fahmida Faiza, an expert in sports diplomacy, and Guillermo Gonzalez Lopez, President of Panathlon Club Colombia.
The presentations highlighted Panathlon International’s contribution to sports diplomacy through the promotion of the positive values of sporting activity.
The second panel featured Fabio Figueiras, a member of Panathlon International’s CCRE, Tiago Guilherme from ENGSO Youth, Matilda Tommasi, President of Panathlon Junior Trieste Muggia and a member of Panathlon International’s CCRE, and Berber Swart, an IOC Young Leader. The discussion centred on the fundamental role of the younger generations in building a sporting world and a society increasingly oriented towards fair play, inclusion and responsibility.
The theme of fair play was further highlighted through the exhibition “Best Practices Showcase”, organised for the Congress, which brings together and presents significant initiatives promoted by Panathlon Clubs.
All the meetings took place in the presence of International President Giorgio Chinellato and Secretary General Simona Callo, together with Sander Renson, President of Panathlon Internationaal Vlaanderen.
The proceedings continue today, 5 June, with the theme “Shaping the game: Europe’s role in the future of sport”.
The programme includes presentations by Stanislas Frossard, Director of Sport at the Council of Europe, Chiel Warners, Technical Director of the Dutch Athletic Federation, and Georg Häusler, Director of DG EAC Sport, as well as two round-table discussions on integrity in sport and good governance in sport from a European perspective.
The event opens with a welcome address by Giorgio Chinellato, President of Panathlon International, followed by a speech by Stanislas Frossard, Director of Sport at the Council of Europe. Chiel Warners, Technical Director of the Dutch Athletic Federation, then takes the floor; he also participates in the first debate on integrity in sport, led by moderator Dr Cleo Schyvinck, alongside experts Guy Goudesone and Michele Colucci.
Proceedings resumed with a speech by Georg Hausler, Director of the European Commission’s DG EAC Sport, who introduced the round table on good governance in sport, moderated by Philippe Vlaemminck, with contributions from Prof. Bram Constandt, Walter De Beauvesier Watson and Sven Demeulemeester.
Fabio Figueiras spoke in his capacity as Compliance & Regulatory Manager for KPMG Switzerland, before handing over to Antonio Bramante, President of the Cultural, Scientific and Educational Commission (CREC), for the closing remarks.
The Ghent Congress thus reaffirms Panathlon International’s mission: to promote sport that educates, unites, inspires and contributes to building a fairer, more respectful and more caring society.
4 June 2026 - The 23rd International Congress of Panathlon International officially opened in Ghent, at the Scala Center, under the theme “Panathlon International: 75 Years Inspiring Unity Through Sport.”
Following the institutional greetings and the welcome address to participants, International President Giorgio Chinellato recalled the origins of Panathlon, retracing the founding values that still guide the Movement today.
He was then interviewed by CREC President Antonio Bramante on the present and future of Panathlon International, offering participants a moment of reflection on the role of the Movement in promoting ethics, culture and the values of sport.
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