On the afternoon of 24 September 2025, MEP Lara Magoni met with Panathlon International President Giorgio Chinellato and International Board member Fabiano Gerevini in Brussels. The meeting took place at the European Parliament, where Magoni is currently engaged in institutional activities.
During the meeting, crucial issues were discussed, such as the role of sport in promoting ethical and social values at a global level, with particular attention to the phenomenon of hikikomori. This is a profound, often invisible, disorder that affects adolescents and young adults, leading to social and educational isolation.
Panathlon International stressed the importance of addressing this issue with concrete and coordinated responses at international level. Lara Magoni confirmed her commitment to bringing the issue of hikikomori to the attention of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture, Education, Youth and Sport, so that it can be addressed with appropriate tools in youth policies.
The meeting represents a significant step in the collaboration between Panathlon International and the European institutions, with the aim of promoting the positive values of sport as a tool for prevention, inclusion and rebirth for those experiencing isolation and fragility.