On 23rd and 24th of Septembers Panathlon International was represented at the start of the 7th edition of the EWOS (European Week of Sport).
This annual event is carried by the EU country that takes over the presidency of the EU during that period.
The partnership of Panathlon International in EWOS is an initiative of past president Giacomo Santini. It has grown considerably over the years in terms of content. From a rather modest contribution in 2016, Panathlon’s contribution has gradually grown into an increasingly strong commitment to propagate the objectives of EWOS.
A growing number of Panathlon clubs are using this European initiative to develop local initiatives and to set up physical activities. In addition, the focus is often on ‘sport for all’ and the integration of disabled people and social target groups.
This is what Panathlon stands for and why so many people take up an active membership with our unique association.
This year in Bled, Slovenia, former international board member Paul Standaert was the representative of President Zappelli at the kick-off meeting of EWOS 2021.
At that location, Paul Standaert was able to explain the mission of Panathlon International to the European top officials, as among others, European Commissioner Marya Gabriel, MEP Tomazs Frankowski, Director of EAC Sport Floor Van Houdt and various representatives of International sports organisations as the ENOC (European National Olympic Committee), EUFA and others.
Panathlon’s participation in EWOS is highly appreciated. In2021, fifteen clubs also organized educational, informative, and sporting initiatives in various European cities.
Sport activities in schools, sports activities with club members, sports activities for young people (tennis, basketball, cycling, swimming for children with autism), a seminar on inequality in women's cycling, to the submission of a candidate for a be@active Education Award. The latter about a school for children with autism where sport is thé way to success in study.
In all these great initiatives, the commitment and know-how of our local club members proved to be the decisive factor in the success of these events.
We thank our members and dare to encourage them to continue these initiatives, to multiply even more. In this way we all will succeed in resonating the message and mission of Panathlon on an international scale.
Paul Standaert