Panathlon International

On Monday, 23 March 2026, Panathlon International had the pleasure of welcoming Mr Sander Renson to its headquarters in Rapallo. He arrived in Italy to undertake an Erasmus internship, on a voluntary basis, within the framework of the International Sports Diplomacy Master Program.

The study programme is promoted by the Hungarian University of Sports Science, a prestigious academic institution based in Budapest, internationally recognised for its education in the fields of sport and sports diplomacy.

During his stay, Mr Renson will be engaged at the offices of Panathlon International and will subsequently continue his internship also in online mode. He will have the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the organisation’s activities and the work of the General Secretariat, with particular focus on the organisation of international events and on the poster project addressed to Clubs in preparation for the International Congress. Also actively developing future projects and cooperation initiatives to strenghten the mission of Panathlon International. 

On 25 March, he had the opportunity to introduce himself to the members of the International Council during an online meeting, sharing his background and his interest in the activities of the Panathlon movement.

This initiative represents an important opportunity for mutual exchange and growth, strengthening the dialogue between the academic world and sports institutions, in line with the mission of Panathlon International to promote the ethical and cultural values of sport.

It is also a matter of great satisfaction to note that Mr Renson has recently been elected President of the Panathlon Club International Vlaanderen, a role that reflects his commitment to the movement. Participants in the International Congress and the General Assembly in Ghent will also have the opportunity to meet him in person.

Panathlon International extends its warmest welcome to Mr Renson and wishes him a fruitful and rewarding period of work and training.

Le partenariat entre le Lycée Français Jean-Monnet de Bruxelles et le Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles a débuté à l’occasion de la Semaine Olympique et Paralympique (SOP 2026) organisé du 16 au 20 mars par l’établissement, et visant à promouvoir la pratique sportive chez les jeunes tout en les sensibilisant aux valeurs citoyennes et sportives.

Une semaine qui a débuté par la soirée de la diplomatie où étaient présents Kolë Gjeloshaj et Kathleen Monseu, Président et Coordinatrice générale de l’association. L’opportunité pour eux d’échanger avec des personnalités et des sportifs de haut niveau sur la place du Fair-Play dans l’éducation et l’apprentissage du sport : Caroline Vinot, Première Conseillère de l’Ambassade de France en Belgique, Jacqueline Galant, Ministre des Sports au Gouvernement de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles de Belgique, Laure Mouden, Proviseure du Lycée Français Jean Monnet, Larbi Benboudaoud, judoka français, Vice-Champion Olympique (2000), Champion du Monde et d’Europe, Cécile Nowak, judokate française, Championne Olympique (1992), Championne du Monde et d'Europe, Prescillia Lézé, judokate Paralympique française (2024), Championne d’Europe et de France, Marisabel Lomba, judokate Olympique belge (1996) et Co-Présidente de l’Association des Olympiens Belges.

Des représentants de fédérations sportives membres du Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles étaient également présents pour montrer leur soutien dans cette opération d’envergure : Frédéric Treuttens, Président de Judo Wallonie Bruxelles et Claire Michel, triathlète Olympique (2016-2020-2024) et Directrice technique de la Ligue Francophone de Triathlon.

Cette SOP était l’occasion pour les 2.500 élèves du Lycée Français de découvrir les photos de l’exposition « l’Esprit du Sport » du Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles et de signer avec les personnalités sportives le « Mur du Fair-Play ». En outre, 200 élèves de CM1 et CM2, âgés de 9 à 11 ans, ont assisté à un Ciné Fair-Play animé par l’association.

En s’associant au Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles, le Lycée Français Jean-Monnet, établi à Bruxelles depuis 1907 et appartenant au réseau des lycées français, premier réseau mondial d’enseignement, témoigne de son engagement en faveur du Fair-Play et des valeurs positives universelles que le sport véhicule.

Aconteceu nesta quinta-feira, dia 19 de março de 2026,  a fundação do Panathlon Internacional Club São José do Rio Preto, o décimo terceiro do Distrito Brasil e o 516° do Panathlon Internacional.

A cerimônia aconteceu nas dependências do SESI SJ Rio Preto com a seguinte programação: montagem da mesa principal, execução do hino nacional, posse dos fundadores do clube, na sequência houve a assembleia de eleição e posse da diretoria executiva, do Conselho fiscal e suplentes. 

Encerrando o evento aconteceu a palavra do  presidente Marcelo Jamil e a palestra do P. Presidente do Panathlon Internacional Distrito Brasil Pedro Roberto Pereira de Souza apresentando slides das atividades do Panathlon no Brasil e no mundo.

A diretoria ficou assim fornada; Presidente - Marcelo Jamil, vice presidente - Martin Wisiak, tesoureiro - Francisco de Assis Sobrinho, tesoureiro adjunto - Vinícius Aparecido Galindo, Secretário - Irineu Tadeu Caetano de Lima, Secretária Adjunta - Silvia Helena Marti, Mestre de Cerimônias - José Eduardo Damiani da Silva (Poty).

Conselho Fiscal com: Luiz Filipe da Silva Silveira, Sergio Ney Bergantini Filho, Leonardo José Garavello.

Conselho Fiscal Suplentes - Silvio Luiz Pegoraro, Nasrundin Alves de Oliveira e Silva e Washington Aranjues Rodrigues.

Marcou presença no evento o Prof. Maurinho Lacerda, Representando Secretário de Esportes, Kleber Fernando Trindade Mello,   além de Ademir de Barros, o Paraná, P. Presidente do Panathlon Internacional Club Sorocaba.

photogallery

Nice Côte d’Azur, 28 février 2026 - Le président du District France, Marc Rozenblat,  a présenté le rapport d’activité 2025 du District, dressant un bilan nuancé entre difficultés et perspectives de développement, en présence de représentants éminents du mouvement international, dont Giorgio Chinellato, président de Panathlon International, Pierre Zappelli, ancien président, et Christian Garrabos, , conseiller international et conseiller du PIDFRA, connecté par vidéoconférence.  

L’année a été marquée par certaines difficultés, notamment sur le plan financier, liées à l’organisation du congrès de l’UNESCO 2024. Malgré cela, le Comité de direction a assuré la continuité opérationnelle, en soutenant les clubs et en poursuivant le processus de reconnaissance institutionnelle du mouvement en France.

Sur le terrain, on constate quelques fermetures de clubs, mais aussi des signes de dynamisme, avec des initiatives visant à créer de nouvelles associations et à consolider celles qui existent déjà. L’engagement sur les questions sociales se poursuit également, notamment en matière de handicap, ainsi que la participation à des projets et initiatives d’envergure internationale.

Parmi les priorités mises en avant figure également la nécessité d'une révision des structures statutaires et organisationnelles, considérée comme stratégique pour renforcer l'efficacité et la pérennité du Panathlon dans le contexte français.

Dans l'ensemble, une perspective de confiance se dessine, soutenue par l'engagement des dirigeants et le dynamisme des clubs actifs.

19-03- 2026 - At the General Assembly of Panathlon International Flanders on Thursday, March 19, Chairman Willy Pennoit passed the torch to Sander Renson.

Three years ago, Willy Pennoit was the co-architect of a necessary renewal following a challenging COVID-19 period. His mandate was clear: transforming local clubs into a cohesive regional organization and establishing a foundation for partnerships with clubs, federations, and the educational sector. Referencing the 2025 annual report, Pennoit highlighted the numerous initiatives that successfully met these objectives over the past year. He welcomed both new and returning members, each of whom plays a vital role—according to their unique strengths—in developing Panathlon in Flanders and, most importantly, in promoting Integrity in Sports.

A Sustainable Future

As a financially modest non-profit (vzw), Panathlon International Flanders (P.I.V.) continues to prioritize a healthy and sustainable operation. Despite limited resources, P.I.V. remains dedicated to its social mission and aims for a stable and positive financial balance in 2026. Consequently, P.I.V. is actively seeking committed partners to help amplify its values. Together, we can create more opportunities for networking, dialogue, and positive impact within the sporting world.

International Congress and the Jacques Rogge Award

Paul Standaert, District President, took the floor to present the program for the Panathlon International Congress, held in Ghent on June 4 and 5. In the coming weeks, Panathlon International will reach out to members with registration details. On the evening of Friday, June 5, the Belgian clubs will present the first-ever Panathlon Jacques Rogge Award at Ghent City Hall. Communication regarding this award will launch in April.

The New Board

Sander Renson, the newly appointed Chairman of P.I.V., thanked Willy Pennoit for his selfless dedication and commitment and welcomed the new Board of Directors:

• Mrs Lieve Van Erum, Mrs Ilse Vanhoorelbeke, Mr Bert Verbauwhede, Mr Pascal Cornelis, Mr Willy Pennoit, Mr Alex De Man, Mr Sven De Wilde and Mr Paul Standaert.

• Dirk Vandenhout will continue to serve as Treasurer, assisting the board with legal obligations. Having served for over 40 years, Dirk ensures continued excellence in financial management.

Looking Ahead: Innovation and Best Practices

Future activities were briefly outlined. P.I.V. will take a leading role in the "Poster Showcase of Best Practices from Panathlon Clubs Worldwide" at the International Congress. these insights will be captured in a digital handbook, providing a new momentum for Panathlon International’s mission: the promotion of culture and ethics in sports.

Meeting Schedule and "Declaration 2.0"

The board has established a recurring meeting schedule to allow members to plan ahead: the third Thursday of January, April, June, September, and November. The General Assembly is scheduled for March.

In 2026, work will begin on the Panathlon Declaration 2.0, tailored to the sporting landscape in Flanders. Initiated by a working group led by Ilse and Sander, the drafting process will involve partners from Sports and Education throughout the coming weeks and autumn. Sportieq (formerly ICES) will also be involved in shaping this new Declaration.

The Reference Handbook and Guidelines for Sport Governance, presented at the 8th IPACS Annual General Conference in October 2025, is now also available in Italian and German.

The new versions have been published in the section on good governance within the IPACS toolkit, alongside the editions already available in English, French and Spanish.

Among the organisations that took part in the IPACS meetings was Panathlon International, which is committed to promoting ethical values in sport.

The IPACS Support Office expressed its gratitude to the Swiss Government, which contributed to the translation of the Handbook into the two new languages to facilitate its wider dissemination.

the good governance section of the IPACS tools library

On 21 and 22 March, the International Sitting Volleyball Tournament, sponsored by Panathlon International, will take place in Sacile (PN). The initiative represents an important opportunity for sporting and cultural exchange between different communities, in the spirit of the values that Panathlon International promotes and disseminates.

The tournament will feature several teams from various parts of Italy and Europe: GIS Sacile, CUS Verona, Vicenza, Brembate Sopra, Modena, Ravenna, as well as the international teams Gorica (Slovenia) and Lavia Copenhagen (Denmark).

The event aims to be a significant opportunity to promote sport as a tool for educational growth, sharing and dialogue between different cultures.

On 5 March and 9 March, the meeting of the Executive Committee and the first session of the International Council of Panathlon International took place respectively, focusing on the examination of various strategic and organisational issues relating to the Association’s activities.

During the meetings, the Councillors were updated on the main recent activities, including the Symposium held in the Lombardy Region, which saw a large turnout and was a great success. The developments in the CIFP and EPAS programmes were also outlined, along with updates regarding membership cards and the launch of a new collaboration (as part of a university master’s project) with Sander Renson, a Panathlete from the Club of Vlaanderen, who will support Panathlon International – at no cost to the organisation – both in the implementation of a project linked to the upcoming International Congress and in the potential preparation of future European projects.

During the meetings, the Treasurer presented the 2025 final accounts and the 2027 and 2028 budgets to the Council and the Board of Auditors, which were examined and approved, whilst also initiating a discussion on the main economic and financial aspects of international activities.

Particular attention was paid to the preparation of the General Assemblies and the 2026 Ghent Congress. Following the presentation of the preliminary programme and an initial assessment of organisational costs, the International Council resolved to contribute a share of the expenses, so as not to place the entire burden on Panathlon International’s budget. During the discussion, heartfelt thanks were expressed to Paul Standaert, who is involved in the logistical organisation of the event, and to Antonio Bramante, who, together with his Commission and the delegates involved, is working on the preparation of the Congress, with the aim of ensuring a high-quality programme and the participation of qualified speakers. The Secretariat announced that it is awaiting finalised costs in order to send out the registration form, hopefully next week.

Among the most significant institutional issues, an initial discussion was also launched on the proposed amendments to the Panathlon International Statutes and on the proposals to update the Junior Club Regulations, topics which will be explored in greater depth in the forthcoming working sessions, together with the revision of the PI Ethics Charters and the Charter of Women’s Rights in Sport (a project launched by the Brazil District), which are currently under review by the CCRE and will be presented during the Ordinary General Assembly.

Important updates were also provided regarding Erasmus+ projects. Alongside the projects already underway, YouLead and MindFit, thanks to the supervision and initiative of the Delegate for European Projects, Fabio Figueiras, nine new projects were presented, in some of which Panathlon International is the lead partner.

The Council also examined the update to the training plan and received a preliminary report from the International President on the activities planned for RelazionExpo 2026, as well as discussing various aspects of the cultural programme.

Particular attention was paid to the awarding of the PI-Flambeau d’Or Prize, which Panathlon International has decided to celebrate on 19 September, to coincide with the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Panathlon Club Venezia, thanks to the willingness of the Club President and the working group that was promptly set up, already engaged in developing ideas and proposals for the organisation of a highly significant event.

The decision by the Chairman of the Culture, Research and Education Commission, Antonio Bramante, to appoint Matilda Tommasi, President of the Panathlon Club Trieste Muggia Junior, as a new member of the Commission was also welcomed.

With regard to organisational matters, an update was presented on the situation of the Clubs, Areas and Districts, with the positive prospect of new Clubs opening in Brazil, Ljubljana and Budapest, currently awaiting approval. Special thanks were extended to International Councillor Perin, Chair of the Expansion Committee, for this significant achievement, and to the President of the Brazil District, Pedro Souza, for the impetus he has given to the new phase of development in the country.

The examination of certain items on the agenda will continue at the next session of the International Council scheduled for 25 March, when discussions on the remaining issues will be concluded in view of Panathlon International’s upcoming institutional events.

Presentation video for the 23rd International Congress: "Panathlon International: 75 Years Inspiring Unity Through Sport” d

Presentation video for the 23rd International Congress

Abhijit Bhattacharya named Global Winner of the 2025 IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions Awards

Abhijit Bhattacharya, a former captain of the Indian men’s national volleyball team, has been named the Global Winner of the 2025 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Champions Award for his impactful grassroots initiatives in rural India, ensuring equal access and visibility for girls and boys in sport.

Alongside the global award, five continental winners have also been recognised:

Africa: Racheal Kundananji, Zambia

Americas: Mónica Elvira Franco Luzcando, Panama

Asia: Kim Yeon-koung OLY, South Korea

Europe: Michele Kang, France

Oceania: Robyn Cockburn, New Zealand

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