The founding Club celebrates its 75th anniversary. The prestigious Panathlon International award honours two champions who embody sport, inclusion and values
VENICE – The event scheduled for Saturday 19 September in Venice is set to be one of the most prestigious celebrations in the history of the Panathlon movement.
To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Panathlon Club Venezia, the movement’s founding club, Panathlon International will present the “Flambeau d’Or – in memory of Antonio Spallino” to two leading figures in world sport: Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi.
Francesca Porcellato is one of the longest-serving and most successful figures in Italian Paralympic sport. She has competed in athletics, Nordic skiing and cycling, amassing a total of twelve appearances at the Paralympic Games – a milestone she reached at Paris 2024.
Bashir Abdi, a Belgian long-distance runner of Somali origin, has made his mark on the international marathon scene: Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020, silver at Paris 2024 and World Championships bronze at Eugene 2022. Alongside his competitive career, he has shown a strong commitment to social causes through Sportaround, an association he founded to promote the inclusion and development of young people through sport.
This recognition goes beyond medals and competitive results, recognising sport as a vehicle for ethics, fair play, inclusion and social responsibility. This is the significance of the Flambeau d’Or, one of Panathlon International’s most prestigious awards, bestowed upon individuals who have made an exemplary contribution to the promotion of sporting culture and values.
The ceremony will take place at the prestigious Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, in the heart of Venice.
On Saturday 19 September, from 10.00 am, the Salone Capitolare of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista will host a conference dedicated to the role of sport in contemporary society.
Professor Andrea Rinaldo, winner of the 2023 Stockholm Water Prize, and Professor Mattia Losi, former columnist for *Il Sole 24 Ore* and lecturer at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, will deliver two keynote lectures on the themes of ethics, sporting culture and civic responsibility.
Roberto Papetti, Editorial Director of *Il Gazzettino*, will chair the event.
The Flambeau d’Or ceremony will be hosted by Luca Ginetto, Editor-in-Chief of TGR Umbria, President of the Panathlon Club Perugia and former President of the Panathlon Club Venezia.
From Europe to the United Nations and from there to the World
The #YOULEAD – Leading the Game project reached the United Nations Headquarters in New York!
As part of the One World, One Game, One Goal initiative, YOULEAD was brought to the international stage during discussions focused on young people and the role of sport in addressing some of the challenges they face today.
Hear the message from Fábio Figueiras, representing Panathlon International, Coordinator of the YOULEAD project, directly from the United Nations Headquarters.
His message highlights YOULEAD’s commitment to empowering young people and creating meaningful opportunities for them to participate in leadership and decision-making within sport.
From Europe to New York, YOULEAD continues to carry its message beyond borders: young people should not only have a voice in sport – they should have a role in shaping its future.
Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport Programme.
SPORTACCORD FORUM 2026
5–7 October
Olympic Museum, Lausanne
CALL FOR ENTRIES | European Fair Play / EFPM Awards 2025/2026 | Nominations Open Until 15 September 2026
The European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) has officially opened the call for nominations for the European Fair Play / European Fair Play Movement Awards 2025/2026.
These prestigious awards recognize outstanding examples of fair play, ethical conduct, and the promotion of sporting values in sport and society.
Nominations are welcome from individuals, organizations, institutions, and initiatives that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the principles of fair play.
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026
Applications: award@fairplayeur.eu
Please note that only applications submitted using the official application form will be considered.
For detailed information and access to the official application form, please visit:
https://fairplayeur.eu/.../efp-efpm-awards/call-for-entries/
On 25 July 2026, in Santo Domingo, the International President of Panathlon International, Giorgio Chinellato, and the President of Centro Caribe Sports, Luis Mejía Oviedo, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the context of the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, Santo Domingo 2026.
The signing of the agreement was made possible thanks to the initiative and commitment of the President of Panathlon Club Santo Domingo, Domingo Solano, who facilitated dialogue between the two organisations and made a tangible contribution to the realisation of this new international collaboration.
The ceremony took place the day after the opening of the Games, in the presence of numerous sporting authorities and a significant delegation of Panathletes. Also present was Balthazar Medina, President of the Bolivarian Sports Organisation (ODEBO), with which Panathlon International had signed a similar agreement in 2023, during the Pan American Congress in Guayaquil, to promote Fair Play within the Bolivarian Games.
The new Protocol stems from a shared commitment to fostering a sporting culture based on respect, loyalty, ethics and Fair Play. Through the direct involvement of the Panathlon Club Santo Domingo, Panathlon International will be present at the Games, helping to promote its principles and encourage the behaviour that best embodies the true spirit of sport.
The 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August, will bring together over 6,000 athletes from 37 countries and represent one of the region’s major multi-sport events.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding therefore marks another important step in Panathlon International’s international expansion. Thanks to the collaboration with Centro Caribe Sports and the work of the Santo Domingo Club, the Movement will be able to strengthen its presence in the Central American and Caribbean region, bringing Panathlon’s values to an event of particular significance for international sport.
President Giorgio Chinellato and the President of Centro Caribe Sports, Luis Mejía Oviedo
Domingo Solano, President of the Panathlon Club Santo Domingo, President Giorgio Chinellato and Luis Mejía Oviedo, President of Centro Caribe Sports
From left: Domingo Solano, President of the Panathlon Club Santo Domingo; Cesar Polit; President Giorgio Chinellato; Myriam Leonor Suárez, Secretary of the Panathlon Club of Colombia and Luis Mejía Oviedo, President respectively of the Bolivarian Sports Organisation – ODEBO
President Giorgio Chinellato with Balthazar Medina, President of the Bolivarian Sports Organisation – ODEBO, and Myriam Leonor Suárez, Secretary of the Panathlon Club of Colombia
The International President of Panathlon International, Giorgio Chinellato, has arrived in the Dominican Republic, where he was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the President of the new Panathlon Club Santo Domingo, Domingo Solano.
The visit represents an important opportunity to meet members, strengthen ties with the local Panathlon community and meet Panathletes from other countries. President Chinellato has also been invited to attend the Opening Ceremony and the events linked to the Central American and Caribbean Games, one of the continent’s most prestigious sporting events.
Recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the oldest regional multi-sport event, the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo will bring together over 6,000 athletes from 37 countries. This event of great international significance will offer Panathlon International a key opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Caribbean region and promote the values of fair play, ethics and respect through sport.
The highlight of the mission will be on 25 July, when, thanks to an initiative by President Solano, the International President will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Centro Caribe Sports to ensure the Club’s presence at the Central American and Caribbean Games and to actively promote the culture of sport and Fair Play.
On 16 July, the YOULEAD project partners met online to follow up on the roundtable held in Podgorica and to continue the development of the project's upcoming training pathways.
Podgorica hosted the project's second Transnational Project Meeting, where partners discussed the results of the research phase carried out under Work Package 2. The roundtable also marked an important first step towards the design of the training and education programme, which forms the core of Work Package 3.
The meeting provided an opportunity to revisit the key insights that emerged from discussions with athletes, sports managers, federation representatives and experts in sports governance.
At the heart of the discussion was the need to equip young people with practical tools to participate actively and meaningfully in the life of sports organisations and in decision-making processes.
Particular attention was given to leadership, communication, integrity, inclusion and mentoring—key elements in fostering more open and participatory sports governance. Participants also highlighted the crucial role of sports leaders in creating safe, inclusive environments that genuinely value and empower the contribution of younger generations.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of developing training pathways for both young people and board members, with the aim of strengthening intergenerational dialogue and encouraging active participation.
Over the coming months, the partners will continue working together to define the content and structure of the training pathways.
Through these next steps, YOULEAD continues its commitment to promoting a more inclusive, participatory and future-oriented approach to sports governance.
Following discussions initiated in September 2025, Panathlon International has helped to bring the phenomenon of hikikomori to the attention of the European institutions, with reference to the prevention of distress and social isolation amongst young people.
On Wednesday 9 September, from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, a round-table discussion entitled **“Hikikomori: European perspectives on measures to prevent the phenomenon and Italian best practices”** will be held at the European Parliament in Brussels, organised on the initiative of MEP Mariateresa Vivaldini.
Speakers at the event will include, amongst others, the President of Panathlon International, Giorgio Chinellato, and International Board Member Fabiano Gino Maria Gerevini, who heads the international working group on Hikikomori syndrome.
Panathlon International is proud to have contributed to the achievement of this important milestone, which is the result of its dedicated efforts to foster dialogue and raise awareness amongst institutions on an issue of growing social significance.
The International Board met online last Thursday, 9 July, to review ongoing activities and coordinate Panathlon International’s upcoming commitments. The International Board Members reported on the work carried out within their respective areas of responsibility, ranging from expansion activities to relations with Clubs and Districts, whilst the General Secretariat updated the Board on international projects and the organisation of forthcoming events.
The focus of the meeting was the follow-up to the General Assembly in Ghent: following the approval of the amendments to the Articles of Association, work has begun on updating the regulations and implementing the decisions adopted.
The Board then reviewed the progress of the Erasmus+ projects. In June, the international MindFit meetings in Izmir and the YouLead meetings in Podgorica took place, involving representatives from Panathlon International and its partners. New collaborations with universities were also assessed, the Ethos project, as well as partnerships with sports institutions and associations, alongside initiatives to expand the Movement into new countries. The Alpe Adria project, which is undergoing continuous development, was particularly well received. Furthermore, in order to help promote Panathlon’s values in Central and Eastern Europe, the President of the newly formed Club in Croatia, Milan Čupić, joined the Expansion and Development working group.
A significant part of the meeting was then devoted to the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Panathlon International and the Flambeau d’Or ceremony, scheduled to take place in Venice. The main organisational details were finalised and the award recipients identified, in preparation for an event honouring individuals who, through their own journeys, have embodied the ethical and cultural values of sport.
The Board concluded by taking note of the important developments in the project dedicated to the Hikikomori, which will see Panathlon International take centre stage on 9 September at the European Parliament, as part of a meeting aimed at exploring this sensitive issue in greater depth, confirming the Association’s growing commitment to issues of significant social impact.
IPACS has published the Fact Sheet on Artificial Intelligence and Corruption in Sport, the first major output of the new Working Group dedicated to AI.
The publication has been added to the IPACS Tool Library and marks the launch of a new section dedicated to artificial intelligence, which will also host future resources on the topic.
The new Fact Sheet on artificial intelligence reaffirms IPACS’s role as an international benchmark for the development of tools to support integrity in sport. This is a path that Panathlon International follows and supports wholeheartedly, by participating in its initiatives and promoting a culture of good governance, transparency, and sporting ethics.
In the coming months, the publication will also be available in French and Spanish. The topic of artificial intelligence will also be explored in greater depth during the 9th IPACS Annual General Conference, scheduled for 2 October 2026