Panathlon International

Panathlon International and Spain’s Fundación Miguel Induráin held an online meeting on 8 October 2026 to explore new opportunities for collaboration within the Erasmus+ Sport programme.

The meeting brought together Simona Callo, Monica Rossi and Fabio Figueiras from Panathlon International, and Marta Hernández Romero from Fundación Miguel Induráin, a public organisation based in Navarra, Spain.

Discussions focused on shared priorities, particularly gender equality, youth participation in sports governance, inclusion and the promotion of sporting values. Potential joint projects were also explored, with particular interest in initiatives supporting women's health and well-being through physical activity.

The meeting marks a positive step towards strengthening European partnerships and developing concrete initiatives that promote a more inclusive, accessible and values-based sporting environment.

6 october - The visit to Lausanne also represented another important opportunity to strengthen Panathlon International’s network of international partnerships. On this occasion, a collaboration agreement was signed with the International Catch’n Serve Ball Sports Federation (ICSBF), an international organisation committed to promoting an inclusive sport based on the values of equality, respect and fair play.

Relations between the two organisations had been consolidated during the CSIT World Sports Games in San Marino, when the Federation’s President, Elisabeth Speiser-Havel, was presented with an award by Panathlon International. That meeting had provided an important first opportunity for mutual understanding and dialogue, highlighting shared values, objectives and issues to be developed through a more structured collaboration.

The agreement was also signed in Lausanne by the Federation’s Vice-President, Milan Čupić, who had previously spearheaded the establishment of the Panathlon Club Croatia – Pula, confirming a relationship that combines the growth of Panathlon’s presence in the region with new opportunities for international cooperation.

6 October - International President Giorgio Chinellato is in Lausanne to attend the SportAccord Forum 2026, a major international event that brings together representatives from International Federations, the Olympic Movement and leading sports organisations, offering a significant opportunity for dialogue and the development of new relationships within the international sporting community.

During his stay in Lausanne, President Chinellato, accompanied by Past President Pierre Zappelli, also met with representatives of the International Olympic Committee at the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage.

The meeting provided an opportunity to present the main activities and projects promoted by Panathlon International, outlining their aims, progress and impact, as well as to explore possible areas of collaboration and new synergies with the Olympic Movement.

This was a significant opportunity to strengthen dialogue with international sporting institutions and consolidate Panathlon International’s role in promoting the ethical, educational and cultural values of sport.

Following last year’s participation, Panathlon International returns to RelazionEXPO, scheduled to take place from 8 to 10 October 2026 at the Great Guard Palace in Verona.

On Saturday 10 October, from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm, Panathlon will be the focus of the session ‘Sport that builds relationships – The values that unite the community’.

An opportunity to reflect on sport as a tool for inclusion, dialogue, participation and growth, capable of forging relationships and strengthening the sense of community. Speakers will include, amongst others, Giorgio Chinellato, President of Panathlon International; Sandra Truccolo, Paralympic archery champion; and other experts from the worlds of sport and social welfare. This event reaffirms Panathlon’s commitment to spreading its message and the values of sport beyond the competition arena, where sport becomes an opportunity to come together and build relationships.

Venice, 19 September 2026 – During the evocative Flambeau d’Or ceremony, held at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista to mark Panathlon’s 75th anniversary, the International Council wished to present International President Giorgio Chinellato with a particularly meaningful surprise, conferring upon him the prestigious Domenico Chiesa Award.

The award was presented on behalf of the International Council as a token of esteem and gratitude for his dedicated efforts in promoting the values of Panathlon and sport, ethics, fair play and friendship between individuals and nations.

It was an unexpected, moving and symbolic moment, taking place in Venice itself – the city where the first Panathlon Club was founded in 1951 and which, 75 years on, has once again welcomed the Panathlon Movement to celebrate its history and look to the future.

It was an honour that President Chinellato received with great emotion, sharing it in spirit with the entire International Council and the whole Panathletic family.

“Ludis iungit” – united by sport and for sport – is Panathlon’s motto and encapsulates a history that began on 12 June 1951 in Venice, before spreading, within a few years, throughout Italy and across the world.

On Saturday 19 September, Panathlon International returned to the city of its origins to celebrate its 75th anniversary alongside that of the Panathlon Club Venezia, the Movement’s founding club. In the prestigious setting of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, around 300 participants, alongside representatives from institutions and the worlds of sport and culture, came together for a day dedicated to the values that have always inspired Panathlon’s work: ethics, fair play, inclusion, respect for the individual and social responsibility.

The highlight of the celebrations was the presentation of the ‘Flambeau d’Or – in memory of Antonio Spallino’, Panathlon International’s highest honour. Awarded every four years, the prize pays tribute to individuals who, through their sporting and personal journeys, have embodied values that go far beyond competitive results.

The award was presented to two leading figures in international sport: Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi, athletes with vastly different backgrounds, yet united by extraordinary determination and the ability to use sport as a tool for personal growth, inclusion and inspiration.

Francesca Porcellato, one of the most prominent figures in Italian Paralympic sport, has built an exceptional career at the very highest level in athletics, Nordic skiing and handcycling. Having competed in twelve Paralympic Games, right up to Paris 2024, her journey stands as an extraordinary testament to perseverance, the ability to reinvent oneself and a willingness to constantly take on new challenges.

Bashir Abdi, a Belgian athlete of Somali origin and one of the leading figures in world marathon running, won Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024, as well as bronze at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene. His competitive career is complemented by a significant commitment to social causes: having arrived in Belgium as a child after leaving Somalia, through Sportaround – the association he founded – he promotes sport as a tool for inclusion and personal development for children and young people.

The Flambeau d’Or ceremony was moderated by journalist Luca Ginetto, former President of the Panathlon Club Venezia, who interviewed the two award winners in a conversation that went beyond sporting achievements, giving them the opportunity to share the experiences, challenges and values that have shaped their journeys.

This gave rise to an intense and authentic dialogue, which brought to the fore the human side of Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi and the deeper meaning of their experiences. Their testimonies thus turned the award ceremony into a moment of reflection on the educational power of sport and the value of setting an example, particularly for the younger generations, who are called upon to recognise sport not only as a competitive challenge but also as a school of life, commitment and responsibility.

The day was further enriched by contributions from Professor Andrea Rinaldo, winner of the 2023 Stockholm Water Prize and a former international rugby player, and Professor Mattia Losi, who explored the relationship between sport, ethics, culture and civic responsibility, with the session coordinated by Roberto Papetti, Editorial Director of Il Gazzettino.

Seventy-five years after that first meeting in Venice in 1951, Panathlon’s return to the city where it all began has taken on a significance that goes beyond the celebration of an anniversary. It was an opportunity to reaffirm a vision of sport founded on excellence, respect, friendship, inclusion and the education of the younger generations – principles that bring Panathlon International’s work very much in line with the ideals of the Olympic Movement.

"Ludis iungit" continues, after 75 years, to represent not just a motto, but a commitment: to unite through sport and to turn sport into a tool for building a better society.

19th of September 2026 - 75° Ceremony - Flambeau D'Or Panathlon International

photogallery

A great day in Venice to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Panathlon Club Venezia and Panathlon International, in the prestigious setting of the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista, attended by around 300 participants.

The contributions of the two distinguished speakers, Prof. Andrea Rinaldo and Prof. Mattia Losi, were particularly engaging and of the highest calibre, following an insightful and compelling introduction by Dr. Roberto Papetti, Editorial Director of Il Gazzettino.

The central moment of the ceremony was the presentation of the Award “Flambeau d’Or – in memory of Antonio Spallino” introduced by Luca Ginetto, President of Panathlon Club Perugia and former President of Panathlon Club Venezia. Mr. Ginetto also conducted a brief interview with the two award recipients, Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi, with valuable translation support from Matilda Tommasi, President of Panathlon Club Trieste Junior.

A particularly meaningful recognition, featuring a Flambeau d’Or crafted by a master glassmaker, highlighting the strong connection between the event and Venice’s artistic and artisan traditions.

An intense and well-attended morning, celebrating sport, culture, and the values that have united Panathlon for 75 years.

photogallery

On 17 September 2026, the Steering Committee of the YOULEAD project held its 4th Meeting online, coordinated by Panathlon International.

Project partners came together to review progress, align on upcoming activities and discuss the next steps in advancing the project’s objectives.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to strengthen coordination ahead of the next Transnational Project Meeting, scheduled for January 2027 in Seville, Spain.

Another step forward in our shared commitment to empowering young people and promoting more inclusive and participatory sport governance!

Together for stronger youth participation in sport governance!

#YOULEAD #PanathlonInternational #YouthLeadership #SportGovernance #ErasmusPlus

On 17 September, Simona Callo, Secretary General of Panathlon International, Fabio Figueiras, Erasmus+ Project Coordinator for Panathlon International, Monica Rossi and Debora Quercioli took part in an online meeting within the Erasmus+ Programme, together with around 50 participants from different European countries.

The meeting, featuring training sessions delivered by ENACEA speakers, focused on learning and Erasmus+ project management, with particular attention to the main procedures, operational and administrative aspects, and the different stages involved in implementing and monitoring European projects.

A valuable opportunity for training, exchange and sharing experiences and good practices, helping participants gain a deeper understanding of Erasmus+ procedures and new tools for the effective management of European projects

 A discussion in Brussels on young people’s mental health and social isolation. President Giorgio Chinellato: “Sporting culture can offer practical tools to tackle an increasingly widespread phenomenon.”

BRUSSELS, 9 September 2026 – Bringing the educational and social value of sport into the European debate on the ‘Hikikomori’ phenomenon and the isolation of the younger generations. With this aim in mind, Panathlon International took part in the round-table discussion at the European Parliament in Brussels entitled “Hikikomori: European perspectives on measures to prevent the phenomenon and Italian best practices”, organised and hosted by MEP Mariateresa Vivaldini.

Panathlon International was represented by International President Giorgio Chinellato and International Board Member Fabiano Gino Maria Gerevini, who heads the international working group on Hikikomori syndrome.

Also taking part in the discussion were Giovanni Lodetti, a lecturer at the University of Milan, a clinical sports psychologist and President of the International Association of Sports Psychology and Psychoanalysis; Federica Perolini, a psychologist and sports psychologist; Emanuela Schiavini, CRA nursing coordinator at the Department of Mental Health of the ASST in Crema; and Stefania Lando, an educationalist and university lecturer. The meeting also featured a testimony from a father via video link, providing a direct perspective from the families affected.

At the heart of the round-table discussion was the need to develop preventative measures and programmes capable of combating social isolation, with a particular focus on young people. In this context, Panathlon International reaffirmed the role that sport can play as a tool for education, social connection and inclusion, fostering participation, a sense of belonging and self-confidence.

‘What we are discussing today is an increasingly widespread condition, particularly in the wake of Covid. We are convinced that by promoting a sporting culture, we can acquire the right tools to tackle this phenomenon,” said President Giorgio Chinellato.

MEP Mariateresa Vivaldini also emphasised the importance of addressing the issue of young people’s mental health not only in terms of treatment, but also through prevention and the promotion of active citizenship, highlighting the contribution that organisations such as Panathlon International can make through the values of sport.

Participation in the Brussels meeting represents a further step in Panathlon International’s commitment to bringing sporting culture into the European institutional debate, promoting a conception of sport that goes beyond competitive practice and becomes a tool for personal and community development.

photogallery