Panathlon International

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28 February 2022 and 28 March 2023 as they relate to Russian athletes and teams, including the protective measures, are no longer applicable.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). 

Press release IOC

O panatleta Ednei Santos, vice-presidente do Panathlon International Club da Grande São Paulo/Mauá, partiu junto com um contingente do Corpo de Bombeiros para uma missão humanitária internacional com o objetivo de prestar socorro às vítimas na Venezuela.

A missão representa o compromisso com a proteção da vida, a solidariedade e o serviço ao próximo, reunindo profissionais altamente qualificados para atuar em operações de busca, resgate e assistência às comunidades afetadas.

O Panathlon Internacional tem a honra de poder contar com um de seus membros nesta importante missão e expressa seu reconhecimento ao panatleta Ednei Santos pela dedicação, coragem e espírito de serviço, valores que refletem os mais elevados princípios do Panathlon e da cidadania. Desejamos uma missão segura e pleno sucesso na assistência às vítimas.

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.

CSIT World Sports Games 2027

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.

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25 junho - Realizou-se no auditório do Comité Olímpico de Portugal a sessão do Panathlon Clube de Lisboa e que contou como convidados do painel de debate Alexandre Mestre, José Manuel Araújo, Manuel Brito e Susana Feitor, e que foi moderado pela jornalista do Observador, Mariana Fernandes.

Depois de mensagem de boas vindas e de  justificação do tema da sessão, pelo Presidente do Clube, Mário Almeida,  seguiu-se uma intervenção de Manuel Brito de contribuição para a reflexão sobre a dimensão educativa, ética e formativa do Desporto e sobre a responsabilidade que todos temos na transmissão dos seus valores.

Os elementos constituintes da mesa, pelo seu trajeto e funções no Desporto, estabeleceram uma conversa viva e cheia de conteúdo e franco debate sobre os desafios que a atualidade coloca à defesa dos valores fundadores do Desporto e que, na sua íntegra, pode ser assistida na gravação da transmissão em direto no link: https://youtu.be/1M2yOLA6vzQ 

Fair Play News Juin 2026

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_BrandbookV3.pdf

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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18 juinn 2026 - L’Assemblée Générale annuelle du Panathlon International District Belgium, présidée par Paul Standaert, avait lieu dans les bureaux du Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles à Auderghem, en présence de représentants des Clubs Panathlon de Belgique : Kolë Gjeloshaj, Président du Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles, Sander Renson, Président du Panathlon International Vlaanderen, Peter Verboven, Président du PCU Committee,  Ilse Vanhoorelbeke, membre du Panathlon International Vlaanderen, Alina Baranova, membre du PCU Committee et Dominique Gavage, Administratrice du Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles.

À cette occasion, les élections du Conseil d’administration se sont tenues. À l’issue du scrutin, Paul Standaert (Panathlon International EU Brussels) a été élu Président, Kolë Gjeloshaj Vice-Président, Ilse Vanhoorelbeke Secrétaire Générale et Alina Baranova membre du Conseil d’administration.

Cette Assemblée Générale fut également l’occasion de revenir sur les évènements du 75e anniversaire du Panathlon International, accueillis par le Panathlon District Belgium à Gand du 4 au 7 juin dernier, et d’échanger autour des activités du disctrict belge pour l’année à venir.

Félicitations aux membres du Conseil d’administration pour leur nomination.