It has been formalised the cooperation agreement between Panathlon International and International Dart Federation, that is the sport that in common slang is called “darts”. In Bolzano, during the Italian Championships, selection for the World Championships, the Past President Giacomo Santini, acting on delegation of President Zappelli, signed the official document that constitutes a ‘declaration of intent for the launch of a joint venture’.
The event took place under the direction of IDF CEO Marco Tomasini and in the presence of numerous national and regional presidents and guests from different parts of the world.
The sport, in fact, has an extraordinary spread in terms of numbers of subscribers and participants at crowded events, such as the one in Bolzano. While the agreement was being signed, over four thousand players were competing in the halls of the Bolzano Fairgrounds.
The signed document emphasises the many ethical similarities between Panathlon and the IDF, especially about fair play during competitions, which are very animated.
Particularly significant are the chapters highlighting the rejection of all doping practices, forms of racism, violence, and discrimination based on gender and skin colour.
On the other hand, the commitment to openness to all and to the inclusion also of those who suffer from forms of psychophysical disadvantage is emphasised.
The planning of the joint venture includes forms of cooperation in both sports and cultural events with seminars inspired by common values.
From 8 to 12 May, Larnaca, Cyprus, hosted the international training course "Youth in Action", organised by ENGSO Youth. The event brought together 25 young representatives, including Matilda Tommasi, President of Panathlon Club Junior Trieste Muggia, representing Panathlon International. The initiative, supported by the Council of Europe through the European Youth Foundation, aimed at promoting meaningful and effective youth participation in sports organisations.
ENGSO Youth: A Movement for Youth in Sport
ENGSO Youth, established in 2002 as an independent youth arm of the European Sports NGO (ENGSO), brings together young sports leaders under the age of 35 from over 30 countries, giving a voice to the youth sports sector across Europe. This coalition aims to bridge the gap between youth participation in the fields of youth and sport, which is essential for the formation of democratic and inclusive societies.
An Event Rich in Content and Perspectives
During the event, participants discussed sports governance and mechanisms to facilitate greater youth inclusion. Among the keynote speeches, Cristiana Xenofontos, Vice-President of the European Youth Forum, and Christina Yiannapi, Secretary General of the Cyprus Youth Council, emphasised the motto 'Youthless policy is a useless policy', describing the work of the European Youth Forum and the Council of Europe in promoting youth rights.
Day two saw a focus on human rights and good sports governance, with participants sharing their experiences, enriching the debate with different perspectives. Day three was dedicated to advocacy, with discussions on effective tools and strategies. Participants also visited Nicosia to meet Stephanie from United Sports Cyprus, an organisation that uses sport to unite diverse communities and promote dialogue and peace.
Strategies and Mechanisms for Youth Participation
The last day was dedicated to creating strategies to improve youth participation in sports organisations. The participants, divided into groups, developed proposals for new mechanisms for youth inclusion at various levels and presented them in the final session of the event.
Matilda Tommasi expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent Panathlon International, underlining the importance of the experiences shared during the event: "It was a privilege for me to represent Panathlon International as President of Panathlon Junior Club Trieste Muggia, combining my experience as an athlete with an active role in youth advocacy. Thanks to the inspiring experiences shared by the participants, I widened my knowledge about sports organisations, from the local to the international dimension. These days have enriched me enormously. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the debate on improving youth participation in decision-making and the rights of emerging athletes.
I am ready to share my experience with the young members of Club Trieste Muggia and Panathlon International, and to take forward the ideas formulated during the event also in the Panathlon Club Junior Trieste Muggia."
The 'Youth in Action' event represented a significant step towards greater youth inclusion and participation in the European sporting world, tracing the way for future initiatives and collaborations.
The President's Committee and the District Presidents’ Committee were held online on 16 May.
Among the topics discussed by the PC were the activities carried out by the President and the General Secretariat, including
- the organisation of the Round Table together with the Cultural Commission of PI,
- the participation and contacts made during the SAMF final event in Lisbon,
- the contacts with the IOC,
- the relations with ENGSO for the participation of the President of the Club Trieste Jr in the event in Cyprus,
- the next EPAS meeting in Strasbourg to be attended by President Pierre Zappelli,
- the SportAccord meeting in Birmingham attended by the International President,
- the meetings held for the AIOS association,
- the PI's plans for the next Olympics as well as the report of the 'PI-Domenico Chiesa' Foundation on-line meeting.
The District Presidents' Committee was organised online to fulfil their request to meet at least twice a year to make it easier for newly elected and confirmed presidents to get to know each other.
All were present except the Presidents of Austria and Ecuador, both for justified reasons.
During the meeting, which was translated into Italian, English, French and Spanish, after a brief introduction by the President and the Secretary General, the discussion focused on the Treasurer's report, which explained and illustrated the reasons that led the International Board to propose an increase in PI membership fees. The proposal will be presented and voted on in Agrigento during the General Assembly. Some District Presidents expressed the economic difficulties of their countries.
The PC expressed its full understanding but underlined that the proposed increase is a little more than 1 euro per month (maximum increase) and it is necessary to allow Panathlon International to successfully continue its international activity and to disseminate its values in the world, hoping that the all District Presidents, who are familiar with the activity carried out by PI, can support this proposal to the Clubs
Reggio Emilia, 4th of May 2024
Ms. Marina Chiesa and the director of the Palazzo Magnani Foundation, Mr. Davide Zanichelli, following an introduction by Enrico Prandi, inaugurated the exhibition of the 30 finalist works exhibited at the UNIMORE University, attended by the director of the Foundation for Sport of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, Silvia Signorelli, as well as panathletes from the Club of Reggio Emilia and other visitors, including the author of one of the podium photographs.
A few hours later, a small square in the historic centre of Emilia hosted the awards ceremony of the Off Circuit of FOTOGRAFIA EUROPEA. In front of a large audience attracted by the music of a youth band, Maurizio Monego gave a short presentation of Panathlon and the Domenico Chiesa Foundation while images of the exhibition were scrolling on a screen.
The winners were called on stage in this order:
Honourable Mention to GORONDI GABOR (Argentina) - not present - for an untitled photograph, which is a composition with three subjects plunging into the ocean water, placed like an arrowhead heading towards the sun disc hiding behind the horizon.
Honourable Mention to LEONARDO DEMARCO (Rieti, Italy - his father received the parchment) for the photograph FIOCCHI DI FATICA, an image that clearly portrays the effort and determination of young people in participating in a race under heavy snowfall.
PANATHLON CLUB SPECIAL PRIZE to SUDIP MAITI (Kolkata - INDIA), for the photograph FAIR PLAY, a well-constructed image: a child playing with shadows of his companions, the ball and its shadow in the centre of the image. The smile of the child reaching out to catch the ball makes the composition a scene of pure joy, interpreting the nature of playing and thus the nature of sport.
On the podium of the final winners, while the screen projected their works, the following names have been proclaimed:
3rd SUDIP MAITI (India): the plaques of the third place, the Panathlon Club Award, and the Catalogue of the Exhibition of EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY will be sent to India to the young author, who has been credited with the 750-euros scholarship.
2nd MATTEO STRASSERA (Rome - Italy) for the photograph AQUATIC SPORTS, an image of two surfers, shot from a drone, in a game that exploits the hidden force of a wave they are riding skilfully. "I looked for the shot when I first started using the drone, and I chose this photograph for the geometries constructed by shooting from above," Matteo commented in the brief interview with him. To him the applause of the square and the 1,000 euros scholarship.
1st CHIARA SACCO (Vercelli - Italy) for the photograph SPIRITUAL ELEVATION, in which the nature represented by the tree and the athletic gesture of the dancer harmoniously merge, reminding us how our existences are closely connected to nature. Chiara is a street dance teacher and a passionate photographer. "The dancer is a friend who is a ballet dancer," she revealed, " I superimposed her image on a photograph taken in the park, as I did not have the time to take it live. Chiara received the prize consisting of a plaque and a scholarship of 1,500 euros.
GORONDI GABOR (Argentina) LEONARDO DEMARCO (Rieti, Italia)
CHIARA SACCO (Vercelli - Italia)
MATTEO STRASSERA (Roma - Italia)
SUDIP MAITI (India)
The final event of the Erasmus Sport Against Match Fixing (SAMF) project, in which Panathlon International was Partner, was held in Lisbon on 23 and 24 April at the Cidade do Futebol (headquarters of FPF, coordinator of the project).
The International President Pierre Zappelli, the Secretary General Simona Callo and the Secretary of the Expansion Commission Fabio Figueiras were present.
This final conference was very well organized by the Consortium Partner and Coordinator, Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and can be seen at the following link.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/WxZ5711w5aYbXCM8/?mibextid=WC7FNe
SAMF is an EU-funded Erasmus+ project that has as its main objective the prevention and education of young athletes about the risks that match fixing activities can bring to their career.
Panathlon International, among the various tasks for the realisation of the activities, has participated in the final research, in the Focus Group discussions, in the elaboration of the toolkit, in the dissemination of the project also through its Ambassadors and clubs in Europe and Americas. It was an important opportunity to meet several personalities from the world of sport, not only from Europe.
During the Closing Ceremony of the 2024 PCU Games, Prof. Dr. Francis Baron Van Loon was recognized for his outstanding contributions to university sports. Nils Van de Velden, President of Panathlon Antwerp, presented him with the prestigious Panathlon Antwerp Sports Personality Award. Prof. Van Loon’s dedication to promoting university sports is exemplified through his roles as Rector of the University of Antwerp, President of the Antwerp Association of Student Sport, Chairman of two FISU World University Championships, and member of the Executive Board of the PCU Committee.
Photo: On the left, Prof. Dr. Francis Van Loon, honored as the Panathlon Antwerp Sports Personality, stands alongside Paul Standaert, President of Panathlon Belgium.
Under the Belgian presidency, the annual European Sports Forum took place in Liege.
Panathlon International was strongly represented there by, among others, Paul Standaert, president District Belgium, Köle Gjeloshaj, vice president Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles, Alvise Angelini, administrator at Panathlon EU Brussel, and Olympian Cedric Van Branteghem, Belgian ambassador for fair-play and also founding member of Panathlon EU Brussels.
The European Forum is the meeting place where numerous international sports federations and European sports organisations meet. This melting pot is at the same time a unique exchange project where the core message around lifelong healthy and ethical sports is the topic of discussion for all.
For Panathlon too, this means an opportunity to share our vision and misse with like-minded people and connect with policymakers at the European level.
Special focus today is on sport with and among young people (schools, recreation, inclusion,...) as well as exercise in later life. Studies show the direct impact on well-being in later life as on controlling costs of care and recovery.
It is reassuring to note that Integrity in Sport too is something for which Panathlon has been pioneering for a long time remains high on the agenda.
For Panathlon, this again shows the importance of staying involved in initiatives at the international level. The role and involvement of the Representations in Brussels and Lausanne remain extremely important in this regard.
On Tuesday, 16 April in Lerici (SP), Secretary General Simona Callo and President of District Italy Giorgio Costa were invited to the inauguration of the exhibition of drawings organised by the Colors For Peace Association. A synergy of intentions was born on the occasion of the Pan-American Congress in Guayaquil last October. The Ceremony, in which Lerici schoolchildren participated with the realisation of more than five hundred drawings, was the occasion to present PI to all participants, Administration and school principals.
Panathlon International and Colors for Peace have given themselves the appointment at the Olympic Games in Paris next August. Through the collaboration with the District Italy, the Italian National Olympic Committee has granted a space at "Casa Italia" where we project the works and/or photographs of our International Competitions (realised with the Foundation PI-D.Chiesa), together with the drawings that children from all over the world (age 6-10) have produced on the theme of Peace.
An important opportunity to spread our Values in the world's most important sporting event.
Grande successo per il convegno Panathlon “Sport Against Match-Fixing”
Nella cornice del Salone delle Conferenze del Circolo Cittadino “Sante Palumbo” in Piazza del Popolo (Latina), il Panathlon Club di Latina, ieri (15 aprile 2024) ha presentato il Convegno "Sport Against Match-Fixing" (SAMF), lo sport contro le partite truccate”.
Platea numerosa e variegata, con la presenza di sportivi e rappresentative giovanili straordinariamente partecipi, il meeting ha inteso illustrare le attività svolte nell’ambito del programma Erasmus+ Sport, finanziato dalla Comunità Europea e coordinato dalla Federazione calcistica portoghese (FPF). Sport Against Match-Fixing, questo il nome del progetto che ha avuto il Panathlon International quale partner privilegiato, e che mira a sensibilizzare i giovani atleti sull'impatto negativo di questa pratica sulle loro carriere e soprattutto sulla loro formazione e personalità, con particolare riguardo alle buone pratiche di prevenzione del fenomeno.
Moderato dal giornalista Pierluigi Grande, da sempre impegnato sul fronte dell’etica sportiva, il Convegno ha visto intervenire l'Avvocato Giovanni Fontana Docente di Diritto Sportivo della Scuola dello Sport di Sport e Salute e Consulente Parlamentare per la Riforma della Legge sullo Sport; Barbara Rossi esperta del settore psico-pedagogico, pedagogista, atleta, allenatrice e dirigente nella pallavolo femminile e Ambassador al progetto, Stefano Sanderra, già atleta e allenatore del Latina Calcio, attualmente trainer Lazio Primavera; Maurizio Targa, giornalista e scrittore pontino da sempre appassionato di storie sportive.
Numerosi gli interventi, dai giovani atleti a figure di spessore nel mondo accademico e sportivo come l’Avvocato Simone Di Leginio, l’Avv. Matteo Sperduti, Andrea Chiappini, Alessia Gasbarroni e per il Panathlon di Latina il Presidente Umberto Martone e il Presidente Onorario Massimo Zichi.
Al Convegno per il Comune di Latina è stato presente l’Assessore allo Sport Andrea Chiarato che ha commentato l’incontro auspicando che il manuale conclusivo del progetto possa essere portato e illustrato nel territorio per sensibilizzare i giovani atleti al problema purtroppo in crescita.
Sono state analizzate, fornendo i dati riscontrati, cause, soggetti colpiti, metodi di approccio, conseguenze e possibili strategie di prevenzione nei confronti della pericolosa minaccia del “match fixing”.
L'International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) in cinque anni (2017-2021), ha evidenziato 1.222 segnalazioni in 19 sport e 101 Paesi. L’Europa fa la parte del leone, con oltre il 50% dei casi riscontrati, la Russia il Paese con il maggior numero di episodi. Ovviamente il calcio, per la sua diffusione (895 miliardi di euro annui solo di scommesse legali ruotano intorno al football) lo sport più gettonato, ma si piazzano bene anche quelli in cui l’azione di un solo uomo (tennis, ciclismo, motociclismo, rally) condizionano l’esito di un evento sportivo. Le serie minori quelle maggiormente insidiate, ed il fenomeno pervade sempre più i Paesi nei quali i controlli sono scarsi, anche per la facilità di effettuare scommesse via web, in ogni angolo del mondo.
Particolarmente grave il fenomeno nei settori giovanili, sempre più insidiati da tale minaccia, per l’attrattività che il guadagno facile può generare nei più giovani e per le conseguenze devastanti, anche a livello di crescita personale, oltre che professionale, che una simile minaccia può comportare per le nuove leve.
Il Panathlon – ha sintetizzato il Presidente del Club Umberto Martone, si impegna a perseguire programmi, incontri e quanto più possa risultare utile per diffondere presso le istituzioni scolastiche e i vivai sportivi i valori di correttezza, solidarietà, inclusività e rettitudine che da sempre rappresentano i valori fondanti della nostra Associazione».
The prizes of the International Photo Contest 2024 were awarded at the end of the Club Representatives voting and after the International Jury meeting.
The final ranking of the selected photographs: "Water sports" by Matteo Strassera (Italy). "Untitled" - by Gorondi Gabor (Argentina), "Spiritual Elevation" by Chiara Sacco (Italy), "Flakes of Fatigue" by Leonardo Demarco (Italy) and "Fair Play" by Sudip Maiti (India) will be officially announced at the award ceremony of the OFF Circuit of EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY, which will take place in Reggio Emilia on 4 May 2024.
The exhibition of the 30 competing works will be inaugurated on 26 April at the UNIMORE University of Reggio Emilia.