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.
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.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport and Guiding Considerations for International Federations and Sports Governing Bodies.
Following today’s approval of the policy by the IOC Executive Board, it will apply for the LA28 Olympic Games onwards, and is not retroactive.
Yesterday evening, 30 March at 8.00 pm CET, an information session dedicated to the Poster Showcase project took place, attended by no fewer than 23 participants.
The event was characterised by a positive atmosphere and the genuine interest shown by the clubs present, who asked targeted and constructive questions. In particular, attention focused on the procedures for submitting projects – confirming that projects from previous years are also eligible, provided they have already been completed – and on how to prepare the presentation materials.
The valuable work of the working group, coordinated by CRE President Antonio Bramante, in support of the initiative was also highlighted.
It was clarified that the poster will be produced directly by the Secretariat, with the invaluable support of Club Vlaanderen, thus relieving participants of this organisational burden.
A well-attended and energetic meeting, which once again confirms the desire to collaborate and share valuable experiences within our network. Next meeting in two weeks’ time: keep following us for all the updates!
A série de webinars promovida pela Comissão de Cultura, Pesquisa e Educação (CCRE) do Panathlon International continua a despertar grande interesse.
O próximo evento, dedicado ao XXIII Congresso Internacional do Panathlon International, será realizado na quinta-feira, 9 de abril, às 14h30 (horário de Brasília)
Plataforma ZOOM https://cutt.ly/crec-pi
On Monday, 23 March 2026, Panathlon International had the pleasure of welcoming Mr Sander Renson to its headquarters in Rapallo. He arrived in Italy to undertake an Erasmus internship, on a voluntary basis, within the framework of the International Sports Diplomacy Master Program.
The study programme is promoted by the Hungarian University of Sports Science, a prestigious academic institution based in Budapest, internationally recognised for its education in the fields of sport and sports diplomacy.
During his stay, Mr Renson will be engaged at the offices of Panathlon International and will subsequently continue his internship also in online mode. He will have the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the organisation’s activities and the work of the General Secretariat, with particular focus on the organisation of international events and on the poster project addressed to Clubs in preparation for the International Congress. Also actively developing future projects and cooperation initiatives to strenghten the mission of Panathlon International.
On 25 March, he had the opportunity to introduce himself to the members of the International Council during an online meeting, sharing his background and his interest in the activities of the Panathlon movement.
This initiative represents an important opportunity for mutual exchange and growth, strengthening the dialogue between the academic world and sports institutions, in line with the mission of Panathlon International to promote the ethical and cultural values of sport.
It is also a matter of great satisfaction to note that Mr Renson has recently been elected President of the Panathlon Club International Vlaanderen, a role that reflects his commitment to the movement. Participants in the International Congress and the General Assembly in Ghent will also have the opportunity to meet him in person.
Panathlon International extends its warmest welcome to Mr Renson and wishes him a fruitful and rewarding period of work and training.
The Reference Handbook and Guidelines for Sport Governance, presented at the 8th IPACS Annual General Conference in October 2025, is now also available in Italian and German.
The new versions have been published in the section on good governance within the IPACS toolkit, alongside the editions already available in English, French and Spanish.
Among the organisations that took part in the IPACS meetings was Panathlon International, which is committed to promoting ethical values in sport.
The IPACS Support Office expressed its gratitude to the Swiss Government, which contributed to the translation of the Handbook into the two new languages to facilitate its wider dissemination.
On 21 and 22 March, the International Sitting Volleyball Tournament, sponsored by Panathlon International, will take place in Sacile (PN). The initiative represents an important opportunity for sporting and cultural exchange between different communities, in the spirit of the values that Panathlon International promotes and disseminates.
The tournament will feature several teams from various parts of Italy and Europe: GIS Sacile, CUS Verona, Vicenza, Brembate Sopra, Modena, Ravenna, as well as the international teams Gorica (Slovenia) and Lavia Copenhagen (Denmark).
The event aims to be a significant opportunity to promote sport as a tool for educational growth, sharing and dialogue between different cultures.
On 5 March and 9 March, the meeting of the Executive Committee and the first session of the International Council of Panathlon International took place respectively, focusing on the examination of various strategic and organisational issues relating to the Association’s activities.
During the meetings, the Councillors were updated on the main recent activities, including the Symposium held in the Lombardy Region, which saw a large turnout and was a great success. The developments in the CIFP and EPAS programmes were also outlined, along with updates regarding membership cards and the launch of a new collaboration (as part of a university master’s project) with Sander Renson, a Panathlete from the Club of Vlaanderen, who will support Panathlon International – at no cost to the organisation – both in the implementation of a project linked to the upcoming International Congress and in the potential preparation of future European projects.
During the meetings, the Treasurer presented the 2025 final accounts and the 2027 and 2028 budgets to the Council and the Board of Auditors, which were examined and approved, whilst also initiating a discussion on the main economic and financial aspects of international activities.
Particular attention was paid to the preparation of the General Assemblies and the 2026 Ghent Congress. Following the presentation of the preliminary programme and an initial assessment of organisational costs, the International Council resolved to contribute a share of the expenses, so as not to place the entire burden on Panathlon International’s budget. During the discussion, heartfelt thanks were expressed to Paul Standaert, who is involved in the logistical organisation of the event, and to Antonio Bramante, who, together with his Commission and the delegates involved, is working on the preparation of the Congress, with the aim of ensuring a high-quality programme and the participation of qualified speakers. The Secretariat announced that it is awaiting finalised costs in order to send out the registration form, hopefully next week.
Among the most significant institutional issues, an initial discussion was also launched on the proposed amendments to the Panathlon International Statutes and on the proposals to update the Junior Club Regulations, topics which will be explored in greater depth in the forthcoming working sessions, together with the revision of the PI Ethics Charters and the Charter of Women’s Rights in Sport (a project launched by the Brazil District), which are currently under review by the CCRE and will be presented during the Ordinary General Assembly.
Important updates were also provided regarding Erasmus+ projects. Alongside the projects already underway, YouLead and MindFit, thanks to the supervision and initiative of the Delegate for European Projects, Fabio Figueiras, nine new projects were presented, in some of which Panathlon International is the lead partner.
The Council also examined the update to the training plan and received a preliminary report from the International President on the activities planned for RelazionExpo 2026, as well as discussing various aspects of the cultural programme.
Particular attention was paid to the awarding of the PI-Flambeau d’Or Prize, which Panathlon International has decided to celebrate on 19 September, to coincide with the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Panathlon Club Venezia, thanks to the willingness of the Club President and the working group that was promptly set up, already engaged in developing ideas and proposals for the organisation of a highly significant event.
The decision by the Chairman of the Culture, Research and Education Commission, Antonio Bramante, to appoint Matilda Tommasi, President of the Panathlon Club Trieste Muggia Junior, as a new member of the Commission was also welcomed.
With regard to organisational matters, an update was presented on the situation of the Clubs, Areas and Districts, with the positive prospect of new Clubs opening in Brazil, Ljubljana and Budapest, currently awaiting approval. Special thanks were extended to International Councillor Perin, Chair of the Expansion Committee, for this significant achievement, and to the President of the Brazil District, Pedro Souza, for the impetus he has given to the new phase of development in the country.
The examination of certain items on the agenda will continue at the next session of the International Council scheduled for 25 March, when discussions on the remaining issues will be concluded in view of Panathlon International’s upcoming institutional events.