Panathlon International and the Erasmus+ MindFit VR project: a concrete commitment to the mental well-being of young athletes
Panathlon International continues its strong commitment to the Erasmus+ project Erasmus+ “MindFit VR: Immersive Sports for Mental Well-being”, a project funded by the European Union and aimed at promoting mental well-being among young people in sport.
The project is coordinated by Budapest Association for International Sport (BAIS) (Hungary), in partnership with Deneyimsel Eğitim Merkezi Derneği (DeM) (Turkey) and Panathlon International (Italy), reflecting a strong international cooperation framework.
On February 13, 2026, an important online focus group was held, bringing together Panathletes and sports stakeholders from various European countries. The meeting, moderated by Fabio Figueiras, was a valuable opportunity to gather experiences and reflections on the challenges young athletes face today, including pressure to perform, social and family expectations, and the increasingly significant impact of social media. Simona Callo, Secretary General, spoke at the meeting, and Monica Rossi participated on behalf of the General Secretariat, confirming the institutional attention and support for the project.
The difficulty of balancing sport, school, and private life also emerged strongly, elements that make greater emotional support essential. In this context, MindFit VR is an innovative tool that can complement the central role of coaches and families through immersive technologies that help young people develop emotional awareness, resilience, and self-confidence. The goal is to create a simple, accessible, and multilingual toolkit that can be integrated into everyday sports activities.
This collaboration is also an important sign of Panathlon International's ability to operate in international networks, actively participating in European projects alongside a wide range of different sports organizations. This commitment strengthens the Association's role as an authoritative partner in international programs and as a promoter of shared best practices.
Heartfelt thanks to the protagonists who contributed to the success of the focus group:
• Barbara Rossi (Panathlon Club of Pesaro, IT)
• Juliane Robra (Panathlon Club of Geneva, CH)
• Teresa Rocha (Panathlon Club of Lisbon, PT)
• Otto Frühbauer (Panathlon Club of Kärnten, AT)
• Lore Vanden Berghe (Panathlon Belgium, BE)
Their contribution represents a significant step towards a more people-oriented sport, strengthening the educational role of sport and supporting the mental well-being of the younger generation.
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