Panathlon International  - 70 Years of Ethics in Sport 

 

On 12th June 1951, in Venice, Mario Viali and a small group of enlightened and visionary friends, all keen on sport and peace, founded Panathlon, originally called Disnar Sport, a Venetian expression recalling friendliness through sport.

Then our motto "ludis iungit" was adopted , expressing the idea that we are united by and for the benefit of sport. Panathlon developed rapidly, at first in its country of origin, then in neighbouring Switzerland and, later on, in other European countries and, since 1967, in the Americas, thus gaining a true international dimension.

As of today, our footprint spans over 4 continents, with its 263 clubs in 27 countries and its 8,786 panathletes who are perpetuating the ideals cherished by our founding fathers.

These include the promotion of "clean" sporting practice, of sport in line with the ethical principles held dear by Pierre de Coubertin, i.e. access to all, irrespective of age, race, sex or physical and mental ability. 

Our efforts to educate young people, by our example and our teaching, to spread the principles of Fair Play and to raise awareness of sport ethics led us to be formally recognized by the IOC that, in 1982, welcomed us into the Olympic Family.

A scenario of heightened competitiveness, harsh economic and financial stakes, physical and moral devastation caused by doping, and criminal misdeeds, including match-fixing, bribery and corruption, makes it essential to have active and militant organisations that stand up to pursue ethical and moral values.

It is Panathlon International's ambition to fulfil this role, to the best of its ability, in the world of sport.

We have been present on the ground for 70 years with our Charters, our international projects and, of course, with the action of our Clubs. 

Everywhere our Clubs, united by same ideal, organise meetings, surveys and workshops, and award prizes and scholarships to individuals who excel in sport and at school in promoting correctness and fair play values.

Panathlon International continues to grow and is becoming ever more impactful all over the world. Its role is increasingly recognised by sporting organisations, as well as by public institutions that are willing to promote health through sport.

Docked in Rapallo, the international seat of our Movement, we are becoming ever more globalised also thanks to our representations and offices in Lausanne, the capital city of sport in Switzerland, and in Brussels, Belgium, at the European institutions.

This 12th June 2021 coincides with the end of a public health crisis that has had devastating effects on health and economy. On-line meetings have made it possible for us to continue to work, although they cannot fully replace in-person meetings. Panathlon also means friendship, mutual understanding out of a smile, a wink or a hug.

Driven by the strongest motivation ever, we are proud to celebrate 70 years of enduring efforts to disseminate the values of sport and their contribution to peace and understanding between peoples.

 

Pierre Zappelli

International President

 

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Tokyo Olympics: 'the organisation is very solid'

From rmcsport.bfmtv.com

The IOC will do everything in its power to ensure that the competition, which is still raising doubts and controversy in the midst of a pandemic, is safe from a health point of view. The first athletes to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics are arriving in Japan in bits and pieces, against the backdrop of a health emergency and growing opposition to the event. Although the government and the organizers of the Games have assured that they will be held in a "safe and secure" manner, the Japanese population is massively opposed to the organization of the Games, hoping, according to various surveys, that they will be cancelled or postponed again, a possibility that the organizers have firmly ruled out. The vaccination campaign is far behind schedule in Japan, where only about 2.5% of the population has received two doses of the vaccine.

"We are indeed in a state of emergency, which requires an almost daily adaptation of the measures planned at the time of the Games," reassured Christophe Dubi, IOC Director for the Olympic Games "The foundations of the organization of the Tokyo Games are very, very solid. We have seen this in the last tests: the work is really well done, the venues are ready, especially for the temporary constructions."

Read the full article

 

A new agreement to strengthen the relationship between Panathlon International and United Kingdom

Following the meeting that took place in Stansed in 2018 between the International President Pierre Zappelli and the Secretary General Simona Callo with the top management of the Panathlon Challenge Foundation after several contacts in recent years (slowed down by the pandemic), last 17 May a coexistence agreement and a collaboration agreement (MoU) between Panathlon International and Panathlon Challenge Foundation was signed, for now electronically. 

Panathlon Challenge Foundation  (https://panathlon.com/)  is a charity operating in Great Britain that provides sporting opportunities to more than 25,000 disabled young people and young leaders each year. This Foundation, which has the same name as our movement, has been developing in the UK since 1997 and had collaborated in that year to open a Panathlon Club in London, which unfortunately never took off.

The aim of this agreement is to bring together the two associations, which have common goals, in order to promote mutual knowledge and plan joint actions.

Among the points of the Joint Venture to establish close co-operation by supporting the aims and objectives of both organizations, e.g. through joint activities, seminars and workshops on different sporting topics; to allow for mutual publication, articles and information about the Associations; to establish and co-ordinate joint activities of fair play, tolerance, peace and understanding; to appoint a member of the Committees as regular contacts who will meet preferably at the General Meeting, congresses, meetings of the two organizations with the possibility of short presentations about each organization and their annual work; Panathlon Challenge Foundation will also work to found a Panathlon Club in the UK.

 

Photo Contest - Panathlon International

Sport and COVID19-pandemic

We propose a photographic excursus of the absolute winners in the colour and black and white categories, of the web winners and of the finalists who participated in the first edition of the "Sport and COVID19-pandemic" contest.

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The Olympic flame and the Hiroshima Peace Flame were united, as the Olympic Torch Relay was held in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The torchbearers had the opportunity to perform torch kisses in front of the Hiroshima Peace Flame, which was lit in 1964 as a symbol of peace. 

“This peace mission is at the heart of the Olympic Games, which unite the entire world in all our diversity. "

International Olympic Committee

The Absolute Winners of the “1st Photographic Competition Panathlon International Sport and COVID19 – pandemic” have been designated.

The 1st Panathlon International Sport and COVID19 - pandemic Photographic Competition has ended.

The absolute winners respectively in the categories colors and black and white are:

Sofia Cadonna from Trento with the following motivation "in its essentiality, a rhythmic gymnastics ribbon and a surgical mask worn as a slipper, makes us understand that, despite the Covid has caged the world and distorted the way of doing sport, we must always find the strength to go on. One notices a nice taut leg, without giving in, therefore ready for the "battle" and

Cristiano Pugno from Rapallo with the following motivation "for the spontaneity of the coach's gesture but also for the great sadness that emanates with his attitude almost of resignation towards the slavery of the mask and rubber gloves".

They will receive a Smartphone and a diploma certifying their victory. All Panathlon International congratulates the two winners.

 

 

Press Release

SPORT AS PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH IMAGES

Panathlon International Cultural Foundation – “Domenico Chiesa” and FICTS - Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs (gathering 123 member countries) promote and organize a special international competition for themed videos, with free entries, on the theme "Sport as Promotion of Human Rights".

An important showcase for filmmakers, new media, professionals and independents, etc. who can participate with videos of a maximum length: 4 minutes, shot in any format and technique (fiction, animation, documentaries, etc.).

The aim of the competition is to promote the quality of the sporting gesture images that spread the values of Panathlon's universal ideal of culture through sport, an educational tool for social change. The FICTS - for its part - intends to enhance and promote the short film as an original form of expression, to encourage the creativity of those who approach the cinema offering the greatest visibility through sport. 

To participate, please send your material through wetransfer (mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) no later than 31 July 2021. 

The Competition Rules  are available from the link

The "Enrolment Form"  is available from the link

A Jury comprising 3 representatives from the Foundation and 3 representatives from FICTS will assess the 20 shortlisted videos and will award - for the three winning videos - prizes for a total amount of € 6.000.

The "Award Ceremony" will take place in Milan (Italy) on 30 November 2021 in conjunction with "SPORT MOVIES & TV 2021", Final of the "World FICTS Challenge" (20 Festivals in 5 Continents) World Championship of Television, Cinema, Communication and Sport Culture.

The participating works will be available online in Area 8 "Interactivity: sport is for everyone" on the Platform SPORTMOVIESTV.COM, as well as on the social media channels of Panathlon International (and its individual Clubs) and FICTS.

 

Press Office

Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs 

Via De Amicis, 17 - 20123, Milano (Italy)

Phone +39.02.89.40.90.76; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.sportmoviestv.com

 

Panathlon International

Villa Queirolo – Via Aurelia Ponente 1 – 16035, Rapallo (GE)

Tel +39.0185.65295-6; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

www.panathlon-international.org

 

 

Dear friends

it's our sad duty to inform you that Past-Treasurer and International Board Member of PI René Hefti has left us after a long illness.

President of the Club of Chur and Umbgebung from 2004 to 2008  

International Treasurer from 2004 to 2016

International Board Member from 2012  to 2016.

We remember his always polite manners, his humanity, his ability to put himself at the service of others, his competence and friendship.

He loved Panathlon, sport and its values that he put into practice in his private and professional life.  He leaves an indelible void in the life of the Association and in those who had the good fortune to know him.

To the family and to the Club the most heartfelt condolences from the whole panathletic family and the feelings of our closeness and friendship.

 

 

 

WORLD FAIR PLAY DAY

The first adhesions from clubs, areas and Districts have arrived after the invitation to sign the Fair Play Manifesto. 

The adherents have been collected on the WFPD website that lists all those who have signed and shared the document that establishes, among other things, September 7 as World Fair Play Day.

Here is the link to the site https://worldfairplayday.org/manifesto-4/ 

We invite those who have not yet signed the Manifesto to do so and send it to the PI General Secretariat (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

 

 

September 7th is the "World Fair Play Day", a sports initiative targeted to promote fair play and ethical values in sport. On this date every year, all sportspersons are invited to spotlight fair play-related initiatives, projects and achievements.

Rounding off seven years of nation-wide efforts deployed by Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles, the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP), the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) and Panathlon International have teamed to celebrate fair play every year on the same date, i.e. 7 September.

Press release

 

Panathlon International

Fondazione D.Chiesa