Panathlon International

The first day of the 23rd Panathlon International Congress has opened in Ghent, dedicated to the theme “Panathlon International: 75 Years Inspiring Unity Through Sport”, with a packed programme of events and two panel discussions focusing on sports diplomacy, governance and the role of the younger generation.

In today’s world, sport no longer represents merely competition, results or medals, but is increasingly establishing itself as a tool for connection, dialogue and international cooperation. This is the strength of sports diplomacy: speaking a universal language capable of transcending borders, cultures, religions and political affiliations, creating opportunities for encounter and collaboration even where institutional dialogue faces greater difficulties.

In this context, Panathlon International reaffirms its role as a Movement committed to promoting ethics, fair play, respect and the values of sport as concrete tools for personal growth, social development and the building of bridges between peoples and nations.

The first panel brought together Antonio Bramante, Chair of the Culture, Research and Education Commission of Panathlon International, Maria Beatriz Ferreira, Vice-Chair of ICSSPE, Fahmida Faiza, an expert in sports diplomacy, and Guillermo Gonzalez Lopez, President of Panathlon Club Colombia.

The presentations highlighted Panathlon International’s contribution to sports diplomacy through the promotion of the positive values of sporting activity.

The second panel featured Fabio Figueiras, a member of Panathlon International’s CCRE, Tiago Guilherme from ENGSO Youth, Matilda Tommasi, President of Panathlon Junior Trieste Muggia and a member of Panathlon International’s CCRE, and Berber Swart, an IOC Young Leader. The discussion centred on the fundamental role of the younger generations in building a sporting world and a society increasingly oriented towards fair play, inclusion and responsibility.

The theme of fair play was further highlighted through the exhibition “Best Practices Showcase”, organised for the Congress, which brings together and presents significant initiatives promoted by Panathlon Clubs.

All the meetings took place in the presence of International President Giorgio Chinellato and Secretary General Simona Callo, together with Sander Renson, President of Panathlon Internationaal Vlaanderen.

The proceedings continue today, 5 June, with the theme “Shaping the game: Europe’s role in the future of sport”.

The programme includes presentations by Stanislas Frossard, Director of Sport at the Council of Europe, Chiel Warners, Technical Director of the Dutch Athletic Federation, and Georg Häusler, Director of DG EAC Sport, as well as two round-table discussions on integrity in sport and good governance in sport from a European perspective.

The event opens with a welcome address by Giorgio Chinellato, President of Panathlon International, followed by a speech by Stanislas Frossard, Director of Sport at the Council of Europe. Chiel Warners, Technical Director of the Dutch Athletic Federation, then takes the floor; he also participates in the first debate on integrity in sport, led by moderator Dr Cleo Schyvinck, alongside experts Guy Goudesone and Michele Colucci.

Proceedings resumed with a speech by Georg Hausler, Director of the European Commission’s DG EAC Sport, who introduced the round table on good governance in sport, moderated by Philippe Vlaemminck, with contributions from Prof. Bram Constandt, Walter De Beauvesier Watson and Sven Demeulemeester.

Fabio Figueiras spoke in his capacity as Compliance & Regulatory Manager for KPMG Switzerland, before handing over to Antonio Bramante, President of the Cultural, Scientific and Educational Commission (CREC), for the closing remarks.

The Ghent Congress thus reaffirms Panathlon International’s mission: to promote sport that educates, unites, inspires and contributes to building a fairer, more respectful and more caring society.

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4 June 2026 - The 23rd International Congress of Panathlon International officially opened in Ghent, at the Scala Center, under the theme “Panathlon International: 75 Years Inspiring Unity Through Sport.”

Following the institutional greetings and the welcome address to participants, International President Giorgio Chinellato recalled the origins of Panathlon, retracing the founding values that still guide the Movement today.

He was then interviewed by CREC President Antonio Bramante on the present and future of Panathlon International, offering participants a moment of reflection on the role of the Movement in promoting ethics, culture and the values of sport.

An online preparatory meeting was held on 28 May with the Panathlon International trainers who will take part in the MindFit VR International Training Course, scheduled to take place in İzmir, Türkiye, from 8 to 12 June 2026.

The meeting, chaired by Fábio Figueiras, aimed to introduce participants to the MindFit VR – Immersive Sports for Mental Well-being project, an Erasmus+ Sport initiative combining sport, mental well-being and digital innovation, and to share the main information regarding the training programme, logistical arrangements and planned activities.

The four Panathlon International trainers who will attend the training course are Teresa Rocha, Ilse Vanhoorelbeke, Rebecca Ripanti and Tunde Stift.

During the course, participants will explore the use of Virtual Reality and hybrid sport approaches as educational tools to promote emotional resilience, mental well-being awareness and new methodologies for working with young people. The training will follow an experiential and participatory approach, combining exchanges, practical activities, group work and shared reflection.

After the training, the trainers will contribute to the next implementation phase of the project, bringing the acquired skills back to their local contexts and supporting the development of activities dedicated to mental well-being through sport and digital innovation.

Panathlon International President’s Committee met online on 26 May 2026, starting at 12.00 p.m. to discuss a number of institutional, cultural and organisational matters ahead of upcoming international events.

At the start of the meeting, the minutes of the previous President’s Committee meeting on 5 March 2026 were approved. This was followed by reports from the President and the Secretary General, who updated participants on the main activities currently underway.

Among the key points of the session, particular attention was paid to the voting procedures for the General Assemblies in Ghent in 2026 and to the establishment of the Committee on the Verification of Credentials for the General Assembly in the Belgian city.

The Committee also addressed the issue of the ethical charters, to be presented at the Assembly, confirming Panathlon International’s commitment to promoting the values of sport and social responsibility.

During the meeting, the granting of sponsorships was also discussed, as well as the phenomenon of hikikomori, an issue of growing social relevance that also affects the world of young people and sport.

There was also an important update on the Panathlon Club Santo Domingo and the Caribbean Games, reflecting the association’s ongoing focus on international activities and the promotion of Panathletic values.

With regard to cultural activities, the Committee reviewed the programme of events planned for Ghent 2026 and the initiatives linked to the Flambeau d’Or, Panathlon International’s historic award.

In the final part of the meeting, organisational aspects relating to upcoming activities were addressed, and it was also announced that a new Club is being established in Croatia, a further sign of Panathlon International’s international growth.

The meeting confirmed Panathlon International’s strong commitment to strengthening its international presence, promoting the ethical values of sport and supporting wide-ranging cultural and social projects

The second Steering Committee Meeting of the Panathlon International coordinated YOULEAD project was successfully held online on 21 May 2026, bringing together project partners from across Europe to review ongoing progress and prepare the next phases of implementation.

The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to exchange updates on current activities, particularly regarding the advancement of the research phase and the preparation of the upcoming Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), which will take place in Podgorica, Montenegro, in June 2026.

Discussions also focused on coordination matters related to project management, communication and dissemination activities, as well as the continued collaboration between partners in ensuring the smooth development of project outputs. Particular attention was given to strengthening cooperation between work packages and supporting a coherent transition towards the next implementation phase of the project.

Partners also reviewed the current status of the YOULEAD communication tools, including the project website, and highlighted the importance of ensuring visibility for the project’s activities and milestones at both national and international level.

The meeting concluded with a positive outlook towards the forthcoming TPM in Podgorica and reaffirmed the strong collaborative spirit among consortium partners as the YOULEAD project continues to progres

SAVE THE DATE! 

Dear Panathlon Friends,

On the upcoming 19th (Tuesday) at 2:30 PM (Brazil time) we will hold another event within the Webinar Series, organized by the Panathlon International Commission for Culture, Research, and Education.

On this occasion, Paul Standaert, President of Panathlon International – Belgium District and host of the events to be held in Ghent, Belgium, on June 4, 5, 6, and 7, will join us.

The theme “The Journey to Ghent Begins Here” aims to provide an overview of all the activities scheduled for those dates.

Don’t miss it!

There was great enthusiasm and an extraordinary turnout for the Panathlon Clubs Projects Showcase: a total of 43 projects were presented by clubs from all over the world, providing concrete evidence of the vitality, passion and spirit of service that drive Panathlon International.

The initiative, conceived as a genuine showcase of Panathlon values – rather than a competition – exceeded all expectations, making it necessary to expand the exhibition space. This result highlights the quality and variety of the projects implemented to benefit local communities.

During the meeting on Friday 24 April, the Commission responsible for the project defined the next operational steps, launching the project analysis phase, organised by geographical area, which will lead to the final exhibition scheduled for June.

A warm and sincere thank you to all the participating Clubs: with their enthusiasm, dedication and commitment, they are making a decisive contribution to making this initiative one of the most significant moments in the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of Panathlon International.

The winners of the Henrique Nicolini Communication Award 2024/2025 have been officially announced, following the evaluation of the entries received by the General Secretariat within the deadlines set out in the Regulations.

The selection process was carried out by the Examination Committee, comprising Giacomo Santini (Head of the Communication Award), Luigi Innocenzi (Vice-President), Carlos De Leon (International Councillor), Andrea Sbardellati (member of the CRC) and Filippo Grassia (Head of Communication), which identified the most deserving projects in the three competition categories.

In the Print and Print Media category, the award went to Florence (Italy). In the Internet/Social Media category, the award went to Buenos Aires (Argentina), whilst in the TV and Radio category, the award was given to Wallonie-Brussels (Belgium).

The selected projects stood out for their quality, communicative effectiveness and ability to interpret the values of the Award, offering concrete examples of modern, incisive communication capable of generating impact.

Congratulations to the participating Clubs for their excellent work and for their contribution to the promotion of an increasingly effective and innovative culture of communication.

The awards ceremony will take place in Ghent on Saturday 6 June 2026, at the start of the Gala Dinner, and will provide an opportunity for people to come together and share in celebrating the achievements and the value of the best practices in the field of communication.

9 April 2026 - Panathlon International is preparing for a moment of great significance: the 23rd International Congress, to be held in Ghent (Belgium) from 4 to 7 June 2026, marking the 75th anniversary of the Association’s commitment to promoting ethics and values in sport.

The recent webinar offered a comprehensive preview of the Congress, highlighting its vision and structure. The event brought together representatives from all over the world, reinforcing Panathlon’s international dimension and its role within the Olympic Movement and the European institutional context.

The programme was designed to combine tradition and innovation.

The first day was dedicated to sports diplomacy, youth engagement and governance, exploring the role of sport as a tool for dialogue, inclusion and cooperation between cultures.

Particular attention was paid to young people, not only as participants but as future ambassadors of sporting values.

The second day addressed key issues such as integrity and good governance in sport, with contributions from international institutions, the academic world and industry experts. This reflects Panathlon International’s growing commitment to the global debate on transparency, ethics and accountability in sport.

Alongside the Congress, the Best Practices Exhibition was also launched, inviting Clubs and Districts to present their projects and their impact on the local community. The contributions gathered will be compiled into a digital handbook, creating a shared repository of experiences and best practices.

The Ghent Congress represents not only a celebration of 75 years of history, but above all a strategic opportunity to look to the future, strengthen international cooperation and reaffirm Panathlon International’s mission: to promote sport as a tool for education, ethics and social development.

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 Monday, April 13, a coordination meeting took place between the Project Coordinator, Panathlon International, and the University of Montenegro, which, Work Package (WP) Leader, is organising the next Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), to be held in Podgorica in June. The meeting focused on logistical arrangements, organisational planning, and key coordination aspects among partners.

The official agenda will be shared shortly with all consortium partners.

The YOULEAD Project is a 30-month initiative funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme. Coordinated by Panathlon International, the project aims to promote more inclusive, democratic, and gender-balanced leadership structures in sport organisations by empowering young people and strengthening their participation in governance and decision-making processes at local, national, and European levels.