Panathlon International

The meetings of the President's Committee (PC) and the International Board (IB) were held online in Rapallo on 2 and 3 April with the participation of the International President. Many important topics were discussed during the meetings.

In particular, the final balance sheet for the year 2024 was unanimously approved, together with the budget estimates for the two-year period 2025-2026, accompanied by the reports of the Treasurer and the Auditors' Committee

It was also decided to convene an online Extraordinary General Assembly in May, aimed at approving the budgets that had been suspended following the rejection of the increase in PI membership fees last December. In the same month there will also be a meeting between the IB and the Governors, possibly in person, as requested by the DI Governors' Board.

Other important points discussed concerned the Erasmus projects presented to the European Union, with a heartfelt thanks to Fabio Figueiras who, together with the General Secretariat, played a fundamental role in getting the PI to participate in as many as eight projects, both as a partner and as a head organiser. The meeting with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was also discussed during which our current projects have been presented with particular attention to PI's participation in the Milano-Cortina Olympics. Participants were informed of the communication sent to all Clubs with the registration procedures to become Olympic “torchbearers”. The topic was also addressed with the PI-D. Chiesa, who participated in the IB for the usual annual meeting.

The IB also confirmed its commitment to the ‘Youth Sport Day’ (for which the Secretariat has just sent out a circular) and has granted its patronage for the next event, illustrated by the IB member Paolo Perin, relating to the Expo on caregiving, which will be held at the Pordenone Fair on 8, 9 and 10 May and with the participation of International President Giorgio Chinellato. Other topics discussed concerned the events planned for November 2025, with the Pan American Congress in Chihuahua (Mexico), and the congress in June 2026, which includes the organisation of the Congress, the Assembly, the 75th anniversary of PI and the Flambeau d'Or in the city of Ghent (Belgium).

Among the main topics discussed, we would like to point out the identification of the winner of the CSIT Award, who will be honoured during the World CSIT Games, scheduled to take place in Greece from 3 to 8 June this year. The award will go to a personality who has distinguished him/herself in the promotion of ethical and cultural values in the field of sport. As soon as it is made official, the news will be widely disseminated.

Another important point concerns the growing collaboration with the Associations recognised by the IOC (ISOH-CIFP-CIPC) which will soon lead to the organisation of a joint event. In addition, the collaboration with the other International Associations involved in Fair Play continues, for the celebration of World Fair Play Day, proclaimed by the United Nations and which will be held on 19 May.

A heartfelt thanks was addressed to our CCSE for the highly successful initiative that saw the launch of webinars, the first of which was made with subtitles in several languages.

The meetings ended on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., in an atmosphere of collaboration and synergy, with the aim of increasing the visibility of PI at all levels and pursuing the projects presented to the Board.

Fair Play News

O Panathlon Internacional Club Sorocaba e de Votorantim realizou o 23° Encontro de Gerações do Esporte e o aniversário de 83 anos do Paraná, atual presidente do Panathlon Distrito Brasil, jogou no São Bento, São Paulo FC e na seleção brasileira de 1966 participando da Copa do Mundo da Inglaterra juntamente com o Pelé, além dos demais panathletas David Ferrari Junior, Neide Sagges, Solange Guerra Bueno e Teófilo Negrão e Vitor Rodrigues Mosca, que também comemorou aniversário no mês de março.

O evento aconteceu no sábado (29/03), com a participação de aproximadamente 70 pessoas, sendo a primeira etapa com um jogo às 09:00 horas, promovendo o Fair Play e a Amizade,  na Arena Brandão (campo do Avenida), entre os Amigos do Paraná que venceu a equipe dos Amigos do Ari Brandão pelo placar de 4 a 1. 

Na sequência, no mesmo local, aconteceu o tradicional almoço, como cardápio uma feijoada e o bolo de coco com abacaxi.  

Le Prix 2025 du Panathlon Club de Lausanne a été décerné à Crissier à Laetitia Hartmann de l’association Rafro Léman. Le club service lausannois récompense ainsi une dirigeante et sportive qui oeuvre dans l’ombre d’un sport peu connu et inclusif, le rafroball.

Le Panathlon Lausanne a félicité Laetitia Hartmann pour ses mérites humains et son dévouement dans la recherche sportive alliant des personnes handicapées et valides pratiquant et partageant le même sport. Le rafroball, sport de balle en salle, mêle des personnes de tout handicap et des valides, hommes et femmes en fauteuil roulant ou non, dans la même équipe. Le plaisir et le fair-play font partie des buts de cette discipline et se sont des valeurs portées par le mouvement panathlonien.

Engagée dans la promotion de ce sport inclusif et présidente de son club, le Rafro Léman, Laetitia Hartmann occupe toutes les fonctions bénévoles de joueuse, entraineuse, coach, arbitre et chauffeur de bus lors des déplacements pour les matches du championnat.

Après une démonstration dans la salle omnisports de Marcolet à Crissier le 31 mars 2025, la cérémonie s’est déroulée devant une septantaine de convives. La Vaudoise Laetitia Hartmann (31 ans) a été applaudie par ses invité·es, les membres des clubs et les autorités communales. Le diplôme a été remis par Oscar Tosato, président de la commission du Prix Panathlon, en présence du président du club, Marc-Henri Clavel. « Cette distinction est un encouragement, une reconnaissance, un remerciement et mille coups de coeur pour tout ce que vous faites », a relevé Oscar Tosato. Le prix, sous la forme d’un chèque de 1000 francs, est destiné à l’association Rafro Léman et contribuera aux importants frais lors des déplacements des athlètes.

Après une première expérience enrichissante en 2024, Rafro Léman participera (le dimanche) aux prochains Panathlon Family Games® des 17 et 18 mai 2025 à Vidy. Une occasion pour le public de tester ce sport rassemblant des règles de handball, de football et de basketball. (comm./J.G.)

Infos et palmarès du Prix Panathlon : www.panathlon-lausanne.ch

À propos

Club service dont les buts sont de promouvoir la culture et l’éthique sportive, le Panathlon Club Lausanne (PCL) a été fondé en 1956. Il couvre le canton de Vaud, jusqu'aux portes des clubs d'Yverdon-les-Bains et du Chablais. Le Prix Panathlon a été remis pour la première fois en 1958. Il récompense une personnalité qui s’est particulièrement distinguée par d’éminentes qualités allant au-delà̀ des performances, dans un esprit fair-play. Depuis, une soixantaine d’hommes, femmes ou équipes ont été honorés, mais cette distinction n’est pas attribuée chaque année. C’est une commission qui désigne le ou la récipiendaire.

Photo, pour publication avec mention du crédit : Laetitia Hartmann, entourée (de g. à dr.) par Oscar Tosato, président de la commission du Prix Panathlon et Marc-Henri Clavel, président du club, le 31 mars 2025, dans la salle omnisports de Marcolet à Crissier. © Jérôme Genet / Panathlon Lausanne

The meetings of the President's Committee and the International Board will be held online on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 April.

The President's Committee will take place on Wednesday 2 from 11 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and will address the following topics:  Balance sheet and budget discussion for presentation in IB- Meeting with IOC, results - PI presentation in European Parliament - EPAS: Event on safe sport as a space for human rights education - SportAccord: Istanbul - Erasmus+: Updates - ISOH-CIFP-CIPC-PI collaboration: updates - Communication Award – Patronages.

The International Board meeting will take place on Wednesday 2nd from 3 p.m. and continue Thursday 3rd April from 2 p.m.

Among the items on the agenda: Approval of final balance and budgets with relative reports - Panathlon CSIT Award check of the candidatures - World Fair Play Awards (CIFP) - Governors' letter to the International President - Representation Guayaquil (America) - Events 2026: GA - Flambeau D'Or- 70th Anniversary PI- International Congress - Update International projects: One Ocean - Photographic- World Fair Play Day-MAISI-DAISI-Members’ Recognition - Youth Sport Day- Milan-Cortina Foundation - Erasmus- Commission on Culture, Science and Education: first webinar- Caregiving Expo- Working Group on Expansion and Development- Pan American Congress 2025. 

Thursday 3 April from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. meeting with the Board of the PI D. Chiesa Foundation.  The custom started in 2021 to meet with the Foundation Board to deepen and strengthen the collaboration between the PI and the Foundation continues. These meetings aim to encourage the planning and organisation of joint initiatives, such as competitions and activities that promote and spread the values of our Movement and sport.  

Registrations for PhotoContest2025 have officially closed. Once again, this competition has brought together a passion for photography and sports, thanks to the Panathlon International Cultural Foundation – Domenico Chiesa, the Fondazione per lo Sport of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, and the Fondazione Palazzo Magnani.

For 2025, the initiative has drawn inspiration from the theme of EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY: "Being Twenty", with the subtitle "BEING TWENTY: THE SPORT I LIVE".

An Extraordinary Edition: Participation from Six Countries and Three Continents

With 32 young photographers aged between 18 and 35, the competition has witnessed an explosion of creativity and passion, featuring 109 competing photographs. Participants come from Italy, Spain, India, Mexico, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a strong representation from Latin America, which continues to impress with the quality and depth of its works.

The 30 Finalist Photos: An Exclusive Preview

The International Jury, composed of industry experts, has carefully selected the 30 finalist photos, which will be exhibited at the UNIMORE University headquarters in Reggio Emilia starting from May 3. The exhibition will remain open until the conclusion of the EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY Festival on June 8.

The Panathlon Clubs Vote: The Judges’ Choice

Panathlon Club representatives are currently reviewing the entries to determine which photograph will receive the "Panathlon Clubs Award", which will be officially announced during the award ceremony.
The 30 exhibition images are available on the Panathlon International Facebook page and website. (View the competing images by clicking on this link .

The Award Ceremony: Celebrating Talent and Emotion

The grand finale will take place on May 3, 2025, following the exhibition’s inauguration, during the award ceremony of the Off Circuit of the EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY Festival. This will be the moment to celebrate the talents that have made this edition unique, unveiling the names of the winners.

A Special Thank You to All Participants

A heartfelt thank you to all the photographers who participated with passion and dedication. We encourage them to continue cultivating their love for photography. PhotoContest2025 is just the beginning of a journey. Inspired by the vision of young talents capturing the essence of sports, this initiative invites us to reflect on how being twenty means much more than just youth—it is an opportunity to tell stories, express emotions, and share hopes.

 With great enthusiasm, we announce that on March 25, the first initiative of Panathlon International’s Culture, Research, and Education Commission took place: the Webinar Series, a new format designed to bring current topics to discussion and implementation within our Panathlon Clubs.

Webinar Topic: How to Make Sedentary People More Active

Sedentary behaviour is now recognized as Public Health Enemy No. 1, as it is a risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and mental disorders like memory loss and depression. However, there is a clear and effective solution: physical activity!

To address this crucial issue, we had the honour of hosting Dr. Victor Matsudo, a world-renowned expert in Sports Medicine, creator of the Agita São Paulo Program, and a member of the IOC and WHO committees. During his presentation, Dr. Matsudo shared strategies and best practices for promoting a more active lifestyle within communities, providing Panathletes and other attendees with concrete tools to combat sedentary behaviour.

The event was moderated by Antonio Carlos Bramante, President of Panathlon International’s Culture, Research, and Education Commission, who professionally guided the discussion and engaged participants throughout the session.

An Innovative Webinar

The event gathered around 60 participants, a significant number for this first session. One of the most innovative aspects was the integration of artificial intelligence, which enabled real-time translation with subtitles in each participant’s native language, making the webinar even more accessible and inclusive.

During the session, attendees also had the opportunity to ask insightful questions to Dr. Matsudo, further enriching the discussion and encouraging reflections on how to implement the presented strategies in their clubs and communities.

An Inspiring Message for the Future

At the end of the event, Dr. Matsudo left participants with a motivating thought:

#EveryWalkBeginsWithAStep

A clear and direct invitation to all of us: start making a change today, one step at a time, toward a more active and healthier life!

We thank everyone who participated in this first Webinar Series event and invite you to stay updated on future sessions that will continue to bring value and inspiration to our Panathlon Clubs. 

If you missed this opportunity, you have the chance to watch the webinar in its original language (Portuguese) at this link 

photogallery

Last March 18, the Vice-President of the Club Bruxelles EU, Antonella Pederiva, at the initiative of the Representation, had the opportunity to present Panathlon International during a session of the European Parliament, to illustrate our Movement and its aims.

During her report, the Vice-President highlighted some crucial points that could be developed in line with the goals of the “European sport model,” specifically:

1. Ethics in Sport: Promoting integrity and equality in sport through seminars aimed at athletes, schools, coaches, media and officials.

2. Grassroots Sports: Encouraging participation in sports in families, schools, businesses and retirement homes and integrating it into daily life.

3. Share2 Program: Support exchanges between European sports academies, including non-EU countries, to provide young athletes with opportunities to train abroad.

4. European Week of Sport: Promoting an active lifestyle from September 23 to 30 each year, committing to ensure continuity of activities throughout the year.

The Vice President emphasized how these initiatives can help build an inclusive and coordinated sports culture at the national, local and European levels, strengthening the link between sport and community.

A great opportunity to promote Panathlon at the European level.

 Thomas Bach was yesterday elected Honorary President for Life of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a position he will take up when his term of office as IOC President ends after 23 June 2025.

The IOC Members accepted the proposal unanimously as they rose in a standing ovation after the proposal was made to the 144th IOC Session by IOC First Vice-President Nicole Hoevertsz on behalf of the IOC Executive Board (EB) in Olympia (Costa Navarino), Greece. Just before that, the IOC Session had heard about the tremendous success of the Olympic Agenda reforms, which defined the presidency of Thomas Bach.

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