Panathlon International

From 4 to 7 June 2026, the charming city of Ghent will host the 23rd International Congress, the 52nd Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly and the Panathlon International Jacques Rogge Award ceremony.

This is a major event for the Panathletic movement, which will bring together delegates and representatives from numerous countries to celebrate 75 years of Panathlon International and discuss issues relating to sport, ethics and sporting culture.

The proceedings will take place at the Scala Event Centre, a modern conference facility that is easily accessible and equipped with affiliated hotels.

The International Congress will open on the afternoon of Thursday 4 June with the first session and will continue the morning of 5 June. In the afternoon participants will move to Ghent City Hall for the institutional reception and the Jacques Rogge Award ceremony, followed by a dinner in the historic city centre.

Saturday 6 June will be dedicated to the 52nd Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly of Panathlon International with proposals to amend the PI Statute. If necessary, the Extraordinary Assembly may continue Sunday 7 June.

The day will conclude with the Communication Award, celebrations for the 75th Anniversary of PI and the Gala Dinner.

Links for reservations and further details will be announced shortly.

The event promises to be an important moment of gathering and celebration for the international Panathletic community. We look forward to seeing you there!

Press release

Save the Date!

4th - 5th June 2026

Ghent (Belgium)

XXIII Panathlon International Congress 

“Panathlon International: 75 Years Inspiring Unity Through Sport”

Fair Play Awards return to Italy for Milano Cortina 2026, 62 years after first honour

With Milano Cortina 2026, the Fair Play Awards will spotlight standout acts of sportsmanship, integrity and solidarity from the Olympic Winter Games. Here’s how to submit your vote.

Read the article and vote!

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/fair-play-awards-return-to-italy-milano-cortina-2026

Votes can be submitted via this dedicated link: 

https://www.olympics.com/en/vote/fairplay 

ColleMar-athon, in collaboration with Panathlon International, presents the International Marathon and Half Marathon Championships as part of the 22nd ColleMar-athon, which will be held on 3 May 2026.

Click on the link to visit the website.

https://www.collemar-athon.com/ 

MILAN, 12 February 2026 - How can we manage the delicate relationship between artificial intelligence, ethics and the Olympic movement? How can we use technology responsibly, maintaining a firm commitment to Olympic values while exploiting AI in research, training and innovation in sport?

These are the questions at the heart of the International Symposium "Olympic Values and Artificial Intelligence", hosted at Palazzo Lombardia on the occasion of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The event was promoted by Panathlon International together with the International Society of Olympic Historians, the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee and the International Fair Play Committee, organisations committed to spreading Olympic culture and its founding principles.

Gary Rhodes (California State University, Dominguez Hills) moderated the proceedings, which were divided into three thematic panels:

• Sparks of Olympism: 'lighting up the future with Coubertin, artificial intelligence and education in Olympic values'

• Ethical and responsible artificial intelligence

• Preserving the past, enhancing the future: artificial intelligence and the public dissemination of Olympic heritage

International experts shared strategic visions and best practices, with valuable contributions from the heads of the IOC's AI Department and Ethics and Compliance Division, giving rise to a concrete and qualified discussion between technological innovation and institutional responsibility.

The human element remains central

One concept ran through all the presentations: AI should not replace athletes, but rather amplify fairness, inclusion and personalisation.

Even in popular sports such as football, the most realistic model remains a hybrid one: human referees supported by intelligent systems, capable of ensuring objectivity without sacrificing the excitement and unpredictability of the game.

Olympism is a timeless educational vision, while technology is a temporary tool that must be guided responsibly.

The challenge for our generation, it was emphasised in closing, is to ensure that Excellence, Friendship and Respect remain the compass that guides innovation.

"AI in sport does not replace the athlete, but amplifies fairness, inclusion and personalisation, always keeping the human element at the centre."

For Milano Cortina 2026, the message is clear: the future of sport will be intelligent, but it must remain deeply human.

The event was included as part of the cultural initiatives of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation.

Youtube Recording - part 1

Youtube Recording - part 2

Youtube Recording - part 3

Photogallery

Panathlon International continues its strong commitment to the Erasmus+ project "MindFit VR: Immersive Sports for Mental Well-being", a project funded by the European Union and aimed at promoting the mental well-being of young people in sport.

The project is coordinated by the Budapest Association for International Sport (BAIS) (Hungary), in collaboration with Deneyimsel Eğitim Merkezi Derneği (DeM) (Turkey) and Panathlon International, reflecting a strong framework of international cooperation.

On 13 February 2026, an important online focus group was held, bringing together Panathletes and sports stakeholders from various European countries. The meeting, moderated by Fabio Figueiras, was a valuable opportunity to gather experiences and reflections on the challenges young athletes face today, including pressure to perform, social and family expectations, and the increasingly significant impact of social media. Simona Callo, Secretary General, spoke at the meeting, and Monica Rossi participated on behalf of the General Secretariat, confirming the institutional attention and support for the project.

The difficulty of balancing sport, school and private life also emerged strongly, elements that make greater emotional support essential. In this context, MindFit VR is an innovative tool that can complement the central role of coaches and families through immersive technologies that help young people develop emotional awareness, resilience and self-confidence. The aim is to create a simple, accessible and multilingual toolkit that can be integrated into everyday sporting life.

This collaboration is also an important sign of Panathlon International's ability to operate in international networks, actively participating in European projects alongside a wide range of different sports organisations. This commitment strengthens the Association's role as an authoritative partner in international programmes and as a promoter of shared best practices.

Heartfelt thanks to the protagonists who contributed to the success of the focus group:

• Barbara Rossi (Panathlon Club of Pesaro, IT)

• Juliane Robra (Panathlon Club of Geneva, CH)

• Teresa Rocha (Panathlon Club of Lisbon, PT)

• Otto Frühbauer (Panathlon Club of Kärnten, AT)

• Lore Vanden Berghe (Panathlon Belgium, BE)

Their contribution represents a significant step towards a more people-oriented sport, strengthening the educational role of sport and supporting the mental wellbeing of the younger generation.

#PanathlonInternational #ErasmusPlus #MindFitVR #Sport #MentalWellbeing #YoungPeople #Panathlon #DigitalWellbeing #MentalHealthInSport

Milan, 12 February 2026 – The Joint International Symposium on ‘Olympic Values and Artificial Intelligence’ opened this morning at Palazzo Lombardia, scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event brings together experts and representatives from institutions, academia and the world of sport to explore the relationship between sport, ethics and technological innovation.

The debate will focus on the role of artificial intelligence in the future of sport, including new opportunities, regulatory challenges and the protection of Olympic values. The symposium aims to provide an opportunity for international discussion in view of the transformations that will affect the sector in the coming years.

  Attilio Fontana  - President of the Lombardy Region

  Federica Picchi  - Undersecretary for Sport, Lombardy Region

 Sunil Sabharwal - President of the International Fair Play Committee CIFP 

   Pierre Zappelli - Past President of Panathlon International 

Alejandro Merino - Madrid - Head of AI Technology and Information Department (IOC)  

Giuseppe Deleonardis - Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at the International Olympic Committee 

  Hilla Davidov, Professional in sports education and Olympic values programmes

  Stephan Wassong - President of Coubertin CIPC

  Gary Rhodes - Professor at the College of Education at California State University

 Emanuele Frontoni - Professor in Computer Science, University of Macerata, and Co-Director of the VRAI Lab

 Bianca Gama Pena - Project Manager and Researcher at the State University of Rio de Janeiro

 Pierre Zappelli - Former President of Panathlon International

   Christian Wacker, President of ISOH

 Sabine Haller-Neumann, IOC

 Representatives of the four international organisations ISOH, CIPC, CIFP and PI

The first day of the kick-off meeting, held in Rome, was a great success, officially launching the Erasmus+ You Lead project. All the international partners were present at the meeting, gathering to share the first steps of the project and plan future activities.

The PI was represented by International President Giorgio Chinellato, Fabio Figueiras, member of the CCRC, Simona Callo, Secretary General, Lorenzo D'Ilario, President of Club Roma Junior, and Monica Rossi, General Secretariat.

The partners were also greeted by the Governor of the Lazio Area, Cesare Sagrestani, who brought his message of welcome and support for the project.

The You Lead project was created to address one of the main challenges facing the European sports system: promoting greater participation by young people and women in decision-making and governance processes.

In an atmosphere of collaboration and enthusiasm, the various work packages to be developed over the next 30 months, at the end of which the project will come to a close, were analyzed.

This positive start lays a solid foundation for a shared and highly impactful work path at the European level.

Mit dem Prix Chapeau wird die vorbildliche Vereinsführung und schwergewichtig die vorzügliche Nachwuchsarbeit beim Eishockey Club Sursee ausgezeichnet. Panathlon Luzern zieht den Hut und übergibt den Surseern 3000 Franken Preisgeld.  pd. Panathlon International ist eine weltweit in 23 Nationen tätige Service-Organisation mit mehr als 260 Clubs und mit über 11'000 Mitgliedern aus 60 Sportsparten. In der Schweiz setzen sich 31 Clubs für einen fairen Sport, Fairplay oder gegen Doping ein und unterstützen Engagements im Jugendsport. 

Der Panathlon- Club Luzern vergibt seit 2003 den Prix Chapeau. Die Gewinnerinnen und Gewinner zeichnen sich im Sport durch aussergewöhnliche Leistungen, durch die Bewältigung einer besonderen Herausforderung oder durch Ausdauer und Beharrlichkeit aus. Sursee hat die Auswahlkommission vor allem dank seinem Nachwuchsförderungskonzept überzeugt. Die stärksten Teams spielen in der NLB (Frauen) und 2. Liga, die zwei vollamtlichen Trainer engagieren sich aber im Nachwuchs und arbeiten da täglich mit den Mädchen und Knaben auf dem Eis. So haben einige national bekannte Spieler wie beispielsweise Dario Rohrbach (SCL Tigers), Simon Müller (Davos) oder Evan Frauchiger (EVZ) in Sursee die Eishockey-Grundschule durchlaufen.

 Laudator Peter Regli benannte anlässlich der Preisverleihung im Hotel Schweizerhof in Luzern weitere Plus-Punkte wie überzeugende, vernetzte, sportliche Konzepte, eine klare sportliche Vision und Strategie 2030, übergreifende Förderungsideen für Knaben und Mädchen ab 4 Jahren, innovative Finanzierungsideen oder das internationale Turnier um den «Lehner Cup». Zudem existiert ein Troubleshooter-Team, beispielsweise bei Problemen im Verein, bei Ethik – oder Suchtproblemen. Bereits vor drei Jahren hat die IG Sport Luzern den EHC Sursee mit dem Präventionspreis für seine vorbildliche Arbeit ausgezeichnet.

Grosse Freude bei den Surseer Eishockeyanern bei der Bekanntgabe. EHC-Präsident Thomas Nietlispach und Nachwuchschef Philipp Wyss nahmen zusammen mit einer Delegation den Preis-Check entgegen. Panathlon-Präsident Heinz Schaller (Sursee) freute sich: «Ein würdiger Preisträger! Die Surseer haben sich gegen zahlreiche andere Kandidaten durchgesetzt.» Präsident Nietlispach bedankte sich für die Auszeichnung und den Geldbetrag: «Dies Auszeichnung zeigt uns, dass wir auf dem richtigen Weg sind und bestärkt uns in der Förderung des Nachwuchses.»

Ammann neue Präsidentin des PC Luzern

Anlässlich der gleichzeitig stattfindenden Generalversammlung wurde die Luzernerin Yolanda Ammann als Nachfolgerin von Heinz Schaller mit Applaus als Präsidentin des Panathlon Clubs Luzern gewählt. Laurent Prince (Obernau) wird die nächsten zwei Jahre als Programmchef für ein spannendes Clubprogramm mit monatlichen Referaten verantwortlich zeigen. Somit sind die Grundlagen ideal, dass sich der Sportförder-Club auch in den nächsten Jahren im Innerschweizer Sport aktiv engagieren kann.

On the occasion of the upcoming Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Panathlon International is pleased to present, on the official opening day of the Games, a video that uses powerful images to interpret Olympic values as a universal language of inclusion, respect and passion for sport.

This contribution comes from the heart of the Panathletic movement, in the hope that it will serve as an evocative backdrop to certain competitions, ideally accompanying athletes and the public during the most intense and emotional moments of the events.

We therefore invite you to ensure the widest possible dissemination of this video, so that its message can reach and engage the entire community.

We extend our sincere thanks to the president of the Panathlon Club Perugia, Luca Ginetto, for his valuable support.

 video

#MilanoCortina2026 #Olympics #Paralympics