And here we are at the first 12 June, after the celebrations of the 70th anniversary Panathlon’s foundation. The echo of that final ceremony, in the garden of Villa Queirolo in Rapallo, still reverberates throughout the panathletic world for the ideal contents it was able to convey and for the call to make every year a celebration worthy of our history.
From the 'Panathlon day' emerges the invitation to organize an event of any magnitude to celebrate the anniversary, beyond any official ceremony.
After all, that “disnar sport” of 12 June 1951, promoted by Mario Viali and a group of sports enthusiasts from Venice, did not have resounding tones but the flavour of an intimate invitation to share values that do not need a loudspeaker to be announced, but only a convinced adhesion.
Today, in a world torn apart by the consequences of an unprecedented pandemic and now tragically involved in a war that belongs to everyone, it might seem anachronistic to speak of friendship and loyalty.
Panathlon must have the strength to be consistent with its message, launched 71 years ago, shortly after the end of World War II, comforted by 70 years of peace in Europe, thanks to the community drive, and now faced with a new test.
Sport stimulates competitiveness, while respecting ethics. Let us not lose sight of this scenario, thinking of young people who need examples and training models.
Panathlon International, present in 4 continents, 27 countries and 263 clubs, remembering its origins must find the strength to overcome even unforeseen obstacles, in order not to interrupt its training path and its history.