The International Board met online last Thursday, 9 July, to review ongoing activities and coordinate Panathlon International’s upcoming commitments. The International Board Members reported on the work carried out within their respective areas of responsibility, ranging from expansion activities to relations with Clubs and Districts, whilst the General Secretariat updated the Board on international projects and the organisation of forthcoming events.
The focus of the meeting was the follow-up to the General Assembly in Ghent: following the approval of the amendments to the Articles of Association, work has begun on updating the regulations and implementing the decisions adopted.
The Board then reviewed the progress of the Erasmus+ projects. In June, the international MindFit meetings in Izmir and the YouLead meetings in Podgorica took place, involving representatives from Panathlon International and its partners. New collaborations with universities were also assessed, the Ethos project, as well as partnerships with sports institutions and associations, alongside initiatives to expand the Movement into new countries. The Alpe Adria project, which is undergoing continuous development, was particularly well received. Furthermore, in order to help promote Panathlon’s values in Central and Eastern Europe, the President of the newly formed Club in Croatia, Milan Čupić, joined the Expansion and Development working group.
A significant part of the meeting was then devoted to the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Panathlon International and the Flambeau d’Or ceremony, scheduled to take place in Venice. The main organisational details were finalised and the award recipients identified, in preparation for an event honouring individuals who, through their own journeys, have embodied the ethical and cultural values of sport.
The Board concluded by taking note of the important developments in the project dedicated to the Hikikomori, which will see Panathlon International take centre stage on 9 September at the European Parliament, as part of a meeting aimed at exploring this sensitive issue in greater depth, confirming the Association’s growing commitment to issues of significant social impact.
IPACS has published the Fact Sheet on Artificial Intelligence and Corruption in Sport, the first major output of the new Working Group dedicated to AI.
The publication has been added to the IPACS Tool Library and marks the launch of a new section dedicated to artificial intelligence, which will also host future resources on the topic.
The new Fact Sheet on artificial intelligence reaffirms IPACS’s role as an international benchmark for the development of tools to support integrity in sport. This is a path that Panathlon International follows and supports wholeheartedly, by participating in its initiatives and promoting a culture of good governance, transparency, and sporting ethics.
In the coming months, the publication will also be available in French and Spanish. The topic of artificial intelligence will also be explored in greater depth during the 9th IPACS Annual General Conference, scheduled for 2 October 2026
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) that had been in effect since 12 October 2023. The decision was taken following a thorough analysis by the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission, considering that the ROC no longer includes as its members any regional sports organisations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine. In addition, the ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories. The IOC EB will continue to closely monitor the situation relating to any ROC activities in those territories, and reserves the right to take any further measures if deemed necessary.
With the qualification period for both the LA28 Olympic Games and the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games having started, and the need to offer equal access to these competitions to all athletes, the IOC EB decided that its recommended conditions of participation for International Federations (IFs) and international sports event organisers of 28 February 2022 and 28 March 2023 as they relate to Russian athletes and teams, including the protective measures, are no longer applicable.
In accordance with the Olympic Charter, and as applicable to all NOCs in general when selecting the athletes participating in the Olympic Games, the ROC must ensure that Russian athletes’ “selection [for the Olympic Games] shall be based not only on their sports performance, but also on their ability to serve as role models who respect, uphold and promote a peaceful society through sport as set forth in the Olympic Charter.” (Bye-law 2.1 to Rules 27 and 28).
To mark the upcoming CSIT World Sports Games 2027, to be held in Aalborg, Denmark, Panathlon International and CSIT are renewing their long-standing partnership through the presentation of the Panathlon International – CSIT World Sports Games 2027 Award.
The award, made possible by the long-standing and fruitful cooperation between the two organisations and the decision of International President Giorgio Chinellato, aims to recognise individuals who have distinguished themselves in promoting and upholding the ethical, moral and cultural values of sport.
Previous winners include the Honorary President of CSIT, Prof. Kalevi Olin, and Avi Sagi of HAPOEL, who were presented with the award at previous closing ceremonies by the Past President of Panathlon International, Pierre Zappelli, and Elisabeth Speiser, President and promoter of the global “Catch’n Serve Ball” movement, who was honoured last year by President Giorgio Chinellato.
For the 2027 edition too, all CSIT member unions will be invited to submit nominations for particularly deserving individuals.
From among the nominations received, the International Board of Panathlon International will select the individual who, through their example and commitment, has made a significant contribution to promoting the founding values of sport.
The Award will be presented during the 2027 CSIT World Sports Games, reaffirming its status as an important occasion to pay tribute to those who, through their work, help to foster a sporting culture inspired by ethics, responsibility, solidarity and respect.
Pierre Zappelli, Past President of Panathlon International, spoke as the keynote speaker at the Graduation Ceremony for the LL.M. programme in International Business Law at the University of Lausanne, which took place on 26 June on the university campus.
The invitation represented a significant recognition of the role played by Panathlon International in promoting ethics, fair play and integrity in sport. During his speech, Zappelli shared with the students his experience of leadership within the Panathlon Movement, emphasising the importance of training legal professionals capable of tackling the challenges of global sport with competence, responsibility and a focus on values.
The initiative forms part of the activities of Panathlon International’s Lausanne Representative Office, through which Pierre Zappelli, in collaboration with Melody Exhenry, develops and strengthens relations with international academic and sporting institutions in the region, promoting the dissemination of Panathletic values.
The ceremony was attended by students from numerous countries and also featured short presentations on the main issues surrounding the regulation of international sport.
Save the date: 23–30 September.
#BeActive, the EU campaign promoting an active and healthy lifestyle in Europe and beyond.
Attached you will find the ‘Brandbook’ containing downloadable materials for the BeActive 2026 communication campaign and the European Week of Sport.
Panathlon Clubs, which have always been keen supporters of this initiative, are invited to take part again this year.
We look forward to seeing lots of you there!!!
BeActive - Canva templates links+
Panathlon International welcomes with great satisfaction the establishment of three new clubs, a tangible sign of the Movement’s vitality and the continued spread of Panathlon values across the regions.
In Italy, the Panathlon Club Trapani Junior has been founded, becoming the 13th Italian Junior Club. This young and dynamic new club is particularly significant for the future of the Movement, as it is set to promote a sporting culture amongst the younger generations based on ethics, fair play, respect and responsibility.
Also in Italy, the Panathlon Club Valle Stura Liguria has been established, further strengthening Panathlon’s presence in the region and bringing the number of Ligurian clubs to 10. This is a significant achievement, confirming the Movement’s deep roots in the region and its commitment to continuing to promote, through sport, participation, education and civic engagement.
Panathlon International’s growth continues beyond European borders with the launch of the new Panathlon Club Hidalgo in Mexico. Its establishment represents a further step in the Association’s international development and reflects the growing interest in Panathlon’s principles and aims across the Americas.
We extend the warmest of welcomes to the new clubs into the Panathlon family, with our best wishes for a journey rich in initiatives, participation and commitment in the service of sport and its values.
The Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) of the Erasmus+ project YOULEAD, coordinated by Panathlon International, commenced on 23 June and concluded on 24 June in Podgorica, Montenegro. The two-day meeting brought together project partners to review the progress achieved so far and prepare the next phase of activities aimed at strengthening youth participation in sport governance.
During the first day of the meeting, partners analysed and shared the findings of the National Reports conducted in their respective countries. This work enabled the identification of common trends, good practices and valuable insights to support the next operational phases of the project. The discussions were further enriched by a review of the previously prepared literature review and recommendations, providing a solid evidence base for the project’s future actions.
The Steering Committee also convened on 23 June to review the overall progress of the project, assess the activities already implemented and discuss the forthcoming actions foreseen in the work plan.
The second day focused on a roundtable discussion that brought together a distinguished panel of experts from the fields of sport, education, youth policy and integrity. The session provided Consortium Partners with an opportunity to discuss their findings and present the initial concepts for the educational programme to be developed under Work Package 3. The exchange of experiences, perspectives and recommendations offered valuable insights that will contribute to the design and delivery of the project’s educational activities and outputs.
The roundtable featured Igor Vušurović, Olympic gold medallist from Sydney 2000, former Director responsible for State Administration for Sport and former Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Montenegro; Marija Jovanović, renowned Montenegrin athlete and Olympic silver medallist from London 2012; Neda Ojdanić, Director of the Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro; Miloš Ranitović, Secretary General of the Paralympic Committee of Montenegro; Prof. Dr. Jovan Gardašević, Dean of the Faculty for Sport and Physical Education at the University of Montenegro; Demir Purović, Administrator of the Podgorica Youth Centre; and Nikoleta Bulatović, former tennis player, coach and sports manager.
Fabio Figueiras and Lorenzo D'Ilario were present on behalf of Panathlon International
The Podgorica TPM reaffirmed the partners’ shared commitment to promoting more inclusive, informed and participatory pathways for young people within the world of sport and marked an important step towards the implementation of Work Package 3.
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17 June 2026 - Representatives of Panathlon International, ICSS Europe and Sports Embassy held a coordination meeting within the framework of the European project YOULEAD, together with Ramon Crespo, the project’s External Evaluator.
The meeting marked the introduction between the partners responsible for the Quality and Review work packages and the External Evaluator, providing an opportunity to exchange views on the project’s quality assurance framework and evaluation approach.
Discussions focused on key monitoring tools, indicators and methodologies that will support the implementation of project activities and help assess progress towards the project’s objectives.
The meeting underlined the importance of close cooperation and a shared commitment to ensuring high standards of quality, effective monitoring and the long-term impact of the YOULEAD project.
YOULEAD is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme and aims to strengthen youth participation and leadership in sport governance across Europe.
At the end of the training activities, the second transnational project meeting (TPM) of the MindFit VR project took place, providing an important opportunity for partners to review the progress achieved so far and plan the next stages of the project.
Representing Panathlon International were Fabio Figueiras, Project Coordinator, and Debora Quercioli from the General Secretariat, who provided support for the project activities.
During the meeting, several operational issues were discussed, including the completion of the curriculum translations into the different languages, the development of the toolkit, and the planning of upcoming dissemination activities. The partners also agreed on the timeline for the next phases, reaffirming their shared commitment to the project's objectives.
The TPM followed on from an intensive international training programme held in Izmir, attended by four Panathletes: Teresa Rocha from Portugal; Ilse Vanhoorelbeke from Belgium; Rebecca Ripanti from Italy; and Tunde Stift from Hungary.
Having completed the training, they will now begin planning and implementing dissemination activities within their respective countries.
More details about the participation of Panathlon International trainers can be found here: https://www.panathlon-international.org/news/index.php/en/component/k2/item/10889-mindfit-our-trainers-in-izmir-for-international-training.
MindFit VR is therefore continuing its journey successfully, strengthening international cooperation and developing innovative tools aimed at promoting well-being and resilience through education and the use of new technologies.