During the first meeting of the International Board of PI, delegations on various topics were discussed and assigned.
Each delegate will be able to contribute ideas, projects, and contributions, which will be discussed in the Board and decided upon collectively.
In addition to these assignments, the Board will regularly exercise its functions as set out in the PI Statute and Regulations.
The next meetings on virtual platform, are scheduled for 16 January and 19 February.
We wish the best luck to all elected Board Members.
Magazine Working Group: Giacomo Santini
Communication Working Group: Simona Callo
Expansion Commission (IEC): Patrick Van Campenhout
Disability Working Group: Eugenio Guglielmino
Training Working Group: Giorgio Chinellato
Youth Working Group: Luigi Innocenzi
Statute/Regulation Working Group: Pierre Zappelli – Giorgio Chinellato
Commission for Culture, Science and Education (CSEC): Chair: Elaine Cook,
Relations with the IB: Eugenio Guglielmino
Milano/Cortina 2026 Working Group to coordinate action in connection with the 2026 Winter Olympics: Luigi Innocenzi
Fair Play Working Group:
- Coordinator of Fair Play action across Panathlon International: Orietta Maggi
- Delegated authority for the relations with World Fair Play Day: Simona Callo
Sponsor/Fundraising Working Group: Luigi Innocenzi
- and to appoint the following IB Members to perform the tasks listed below:
Relations with the South-American Districts: Luis Moreno Gonzales
Relations with District Italy (DI): President Zappelli, who may ask to be assisted by an IB Member, as appropriate
Relations with the German-speaking Districts and Clubs: Pierre Zappelli and Stefano Giulieri
Relations with the General Secretariat: Pierre Zappelli and Stefano Giulieri
Communication Award: Luigi Innocenzi
PI Representation in Lausanne - Team Members: Pierre Zappelli – Melody Exhenry – Simona Callo
PI Representation in Brussels - Team Members: IB Contacts: Patrick Van Campenhout – Philippe Vlaemmink – Paul Standaert - Pierre Zappelli – Giacomo Santini as needed
Relations with partner organisations: President Zappelli, Simona Callo, Melody Exhenry
PCU (relations with University-based Panathlon Clubs): Patrick Van Camphenout (in cooperation with Eugenio Guglielmino)
EPAS: President Zappelli
Webinar update on World Fair Play Day
Next Thursday 21 January Panathlon International will be engaged in a webinar of update on the World Fair Play Day.
The coordination group currently led by the Club of Wallonie-Bruxelles is composed of Panathlon International, CIFP (International Fair Play Committee) and EFPM (European Fair Play Movement).
Among the topics on the agenda, the dissemination of the Manifesto, the preparation of the event and the WFPD dissemination campaign.
We learn the sad news of the passing of our friend William Saad Abdulnur, former President of District Brazil, member of the Expansion Commission, President of the Club of Taubaté and currently past president of the Club of Taubaté.
He served as International Board Member in the years 2019-2020.
The family of Panathlon International offers its deepest condolences to the family and the entire District Brazil.
After the opening session of the 16th Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport of the Council of Europe and the introductory session focused on the revision of the European Charter for Sport (5 November 2020), the third online session of this conference ("Human rights in sport") took place on Monday 7 December (10.00-11.30 CET).
The session was open only to invited delegations and observers, for Panathlon International participated the General Secretary Simona Callo.
This introductory session was moderated by André-Noël Chaker and included insights into human rights issues such as the right to a fair trial, the protection of children and the economic and social rights of athletes. Speakers included:
Tiina Kivisaari, Director of Sport, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
Marko Bošnjak, Judge, European Court of Human Rights
Claudia Bokel, President of the German Fencing Federation, former President of the IOC Athletes Commission
Pierre Cornu, President, Foundation Board, International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES)
The session was opened by Lefteris Avgenakis, Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport, Greece
Panathlon participated, through Patrick Van Camphenhout, International Board Member, and Paul Standaert, President of the Belgian District, in the EWOS 2020 (# BEACTIVE) awards ceremony which was held in digital.
About 200 delegations and many personalities were present:
Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
Tomasz Frankowski, Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of the Sports Group.
The EU received 95 projects from 26 different European countries. Finally, 3 categories were awarded :
- BEACTIVE- Education Award: Petra Preradovića Primary school, Croatia.
- BEACTIVE- Workplace Award: House of Code, Denmark
- # BEACTIVE- Local Hero Award: Tomás Slavata, Czech Republic
In addition to some testimonials from the 2019 winners and their other accomplishments, participants attended a beautiful performance by a dancer and a contemporary bicycle acrobat.
The event was led by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.
On the 1st of December, in an atmosphere of great collaboration, the first meeting of the Working Group was held by videoconference. It coordinates the World Fair Play Day set on the 7th of September of each year.
Present were the Club of Wallonie-Brussels, promoter of the event, the Head of the International Fair Play Committee, the President and Secretary of EFPM and for Panathlon International the General Secretary Simona Callo.
Several items on the agenda. From the coordination of the group, to the diffusion of the Manifesto from the management of the web site to the promotion campaign, from the celebration of the event in 2021 to the actions to be taken.
At the end of the meeting, the President of the Club of Wallonie Brussels, Philippe Housiaux thanked everyone for the team spirit shown and concluded by saying that " .... we all know that there is a lot of work to do, but we are already speaking the "language of fair play", the most precious of all the languages of the world (and not only in the world of sport)".
The second meeting has already been scheduled for January 2021 in order to update the progress of the work.
ONLINE CONFERENCE - “Sideline”: Stop Trafficking of Young African Football Players
November 18, 2020
Due to the Covid 19 restrictions the event of November 18th at the siege of the Panathlon EU Antenna in Brussels will not take place as ‘classic’ fysical meeting but as webinar instead.
This webinar, organized by the antenna in Brussels in collaboration with the Intergroup Sport of the European Commission, is supported by 2 Members of the European Parliament and is about the tragical faith of young African Football players caused by the trafficking into Europe.
Registration and attending can be done by sending a message at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
LA28 building on Olympic Agenda 2020 to deliver innovative Games
The first meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) concluded on Friday 30th October, with updates detailing the strong foundations laid by the local Organising Committee, its achievements to date and plans for the coming months as it looks to deliver innovative Olympic and Paralympic Games.
la28-building-on-olympic-agenda-2020
The International President Pierre Zappelli will take part in the 16th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers of Sport that will consist of several sessions held via videoconference.
The Conference was due to take place in Athens on these same days but, unfortunately, due to pandemic-related restrictions, it has been split into several meetings that will be run on the Web.
The first of them is scheduled tomorrow, Thursday 5th November, and is due to begin at 10 a.m. with an opening session, followed in the afternoon by a session exclusively for the Ministers of Sport or their delegates and for eligible international sport associations, including Panathlon International.
This meeting, entitled "A European approach to sport policies: the revision of the European Sports Charter", will focus on the revision of the European Sports Charter.
The morning opening session (10 to 11 a.m.) will be open to the general public so that everyone may join and attend.
From the following link https://www.coe.int/en/web/sport/msl16#{%2275008128%22:[0]} drop down the menu for the opening session of November 5 and click on "link to view the opening session".
“2nd World Amateur Sports Forum - Sport Impacts All” within the frame of the 42nd CSIT Congress-Summit 2020 on Friday Oct. 30th, starting at 13.30
the International President Pierre Zappelli and the Secretary General Simona Callo will participate in the Forum
