75th anniversary of the Panathlon Club Venezia and Panathlon International - Flambeau d’Or in memory of Antonio Spallino, awarded to Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi
PRESS RELEASE
Seventy-five years after its foundation, Panathlon returns, in spirit, to its roots to celebrate, right here in Venice, one of the most significant anniversaries in its history.
It was in fact in Venice, in 1951, that the first Panathlon Club was founded, giving rise to a Movement destined to spread throughout Italy and the world and to promote, through sport, the principles of ethics, fair play, inclusion, respect for the individual and social responsibility.
On Saturday 19 September, in the prestigious setting of the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista, the Panathlon Club Venezia – the Movement’s founding club – will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its foundation and of Panathlon International with a day that will bring together representatives from the Panathlon world, dignitaries, leading figures from the worlds of sport and culture, and guests from Italy and abroad.
The highlight of the celebrations will be the presentation of the “Flambeau d’Or – in memory of Antonio Spallino”, Panathlon International’s highest honour, to two leading figures in world sport: Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi.
The day will begin at 10.00 am with a conference dedicated to the role of sport in contemporary society.
The keynote speakers will be Professor Andrea Rinaldo, winner of the 2023 Stockholm Water Prize, an internationally renowned scientist and, in his youth, a top-level rugby player who even represented the national team, and Professor Mattia Losi, recipient of the ‘Maestro del Lavoro’ award, former columnist for Il Sole 24 Ore and lecturer at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Their Lectio Magistralis will address the themes of ethics, sporting culture and social responsibility.
The talks will be chaired by Roberto Papetti, Editorial Director of Il Gazzettino.
This will be followed by the Flambeau d’Or ceremony, an award given to individuals who, through their personal and sporting journeys, have made an exemplary contribution to promoting the values of sport, going beyond mere competitive results.
Francesca Porcellato, a true icon of Italian Paralympic sport, has excelled in three disciplines – athletics, Nordic skiing and cycling – building an extraordinary career at the highest international level. She has competed in twelve editions of the Paralympic Games, right up to Paris 2024, securing numerous successes and medals over the years and becoming one of the most iconic figures in Italian Paralympic sport.
Bashir Abdi, a Belgian long-distance runner of Somali origin, is one of the leading figures on the international marathon circuit. His honours include the Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020, the silver at Paris 2024 and the World Championships bronze at Eugene 2022.
Alongside his competitive career, he is deeply committed to social causes through Sportaround, the charity he founded to promote the inclusion and development of young people through sport.
Two profoundly different stories, united by their ability to demonstrate how sport can become a tool for growth, inclusion, determination and responsibility towards others: values that underpin Panathlon International’s decision to award them the Flambeau d’Or.
The award ceremony will be hosted by Luca Ginetto, Editor-in-Chief of TGR Umbria, President of the Panathlon Club Perugia and former President of the Panathlon Club Venezia.
The 75th anniversary will therefore not only be an opportunity to look back on a history that began in Venice in 1951, but also to look to the future of the Movement, renewing its commitment to the younger generations and reaffirming a vision of sport capable of combining excellence, education, inclusion and respect for the individual.
Venice, the city where it all began, once again becomes the symbolic setting in which Panathlon celebrates its history and renews the values that have inspired its work for seventy-five years.
The Flambeau d’Or is awarded to Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi in the city of Venice
The founding Club celebrates its 75th anniversary. The prestigious Panathlon International award honours two champions who embody sport, inclusion and values
VENICE – The event scheduled for Saturday 19 September in Venice is set to be one of the most prestigious celebrations in the history of the Panathlon movement.
To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Panathlon Club Venezia, the movement’s founding club, Panathlon International will present the “Flambeau d’Or – in memory of Antonio Spallino” to two leading figures in world sport: Francesca Porcellato and Bashir Abdi.
Francesca Porcellato is one of the longest-serving and most successful figures in Italian Paralympic sport. She has competed in athletics, Nordic skiing and cycling, amassing a total of twelve appearances at the Paralympic Games – a milestone she reached at Paris 2024.
Bashir Abdi, a Belgian long-distance runner of Somali origin, has made his mark on the international marathon scene: Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020, silver at Paris 2024 and World Championships bronze at Eugene 2022. Alongside his competitive career, he has shown a strong commitment to social causes through Sportaround, an association he founded to promote the inclusion and development of young people through sport.
This recognition goes beyond medals and competitive results, recognising sport as a vehicle for ethics, fair play, inclusion and social responsibility. This is the significance of the Flambeau d’Or, one of Panathlon International’s most prestigious awards, bestowed upon individuals who have made an exemplary contribution to the promotion of sporting culture and values.
The ceremony will take place at the prestigious Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, in the heart of Venice.
On Saturday 19 September, from 10.00 am, the Salone Capitolare of the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista will host a conference dedicated to the role of sport in contemporary society.
Professor Andrea Rinaldo, winner of the 2023 Stockholm Water Prize, and Professor Mattia Losi, former columnist for *Il Sole 24 Ore* and lecturer at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, will deliver two keynote lectures on the themes of ethics, sporting culture and civic responsibility.
Roberto Papetti, Editorial Director of *Il Gazzettino*, will chair the event.
The Flambeau d’Or ceremony will be hosted by Luca Ginetto, Editor-in-Chief of TGR Umbria, President of the Panathlon Club Perugia and former President of the Panathlon Club Venezia.
From Europe to the United Nations and from there to the World - The YOULEAD – Leading the Game project reached the United Nations Headquarters in New York!
From Europe to the United Nations and from there to the World
The #YOULEAD – Leading the Game project reached the United Nations Headquarters in New York!
As part of the One World, One Game, One Goal initiative, YOULEAD was brought to the international stage during discussions focused on young people and the role of sport in addressing some of the challenges they face today.
Hear the message from Fábio Figueiras, representing Panathlon International, Coordinator of the YOULEAD project, directly from the United Nations Headquarters.
His message highlights YOULEAD’s commitment to empowering young people and creating meaningful opportunities for them to participate in leadership and decision-making within sport.
From Europe to New York, YOULEAD continues to carry its message beyond borders: young people should not only have a voice in sport – they should have a role in shaping its future.
Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport Programme.
European Fair Play / EFPM Awards 2025/2026
CALL FOR ENTRIES | European Fair Play / EFPM Awards 2025/2026 | Nominations Open Until 15 September 2026
The European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) has officially opened the call for nominations for the European Fair Play / European Fair Play Movement Awards 2025/2026.
These prestigious awards recognize outstanding examples of fair play, ethical conduct, and the promotion of sporting values in sport and society.
Nominations are welcome from individuals, organizations, institutions, and initiatives that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the principles of fair play.
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026
Applications: award@fairplayeur.eu
Please note that only applications submitted using the official application form will be considered.
For detailed information and access to the official application form, please visit:
https://fairplayeur.eu/.../efp-efpm-awards/call-for-entries/
"Panathlon International and Centro Caribe Sports: the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on July 25th"
The International President of Panathlon International, Giorgio Chinellato, has arrived in the Dominican Republic, where he was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the President of the new Panathlon Club Santo Domingo, Domingo Solano.
The visit represents an important opportunity to meet members, strengthen ties with the local Panathlon community and meet Panathletes from other countries. President Chinellato has also been invited to attend the Opening Ceremony and the events linked to the Central American and Caribbean Games, one of the continent’s most prestigious sporting events.
Recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the oldest regional multi-sport event, the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo will bring together over 6,000 athletes from 37 countries. This event of great international significance will offer Panathlon International a key opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Caribbean region and promote the values of fair play, ethics and respect through sport.
The highlight of the mission will be on 25 July, when, thanks to an initiative by President Solano, the International President will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Centro Caribe Sports to ensure the Club’s presence at the Central American and Caribbean Games and to actively promote the culture of sport and Fair Play.
The issue of hikikomori reaches the European Parliament
Following discussions initiated in September 2025, Panathlon International has helped to bring the phenomenon of hikikomori to the attention of the European institutions, with reference to the prevention of distress and social isolation amongst young people.
On Wednesday 9 September, from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, a round-table discussion entitled **“Hikikomori: European perspectives on measures to prevent the phenomenon and Italian best practices”** will be held at the European Parliament in Brussels, organised on the initiative of MEP Mariateresa Vivaldini.
Speakers at the event will include, amongst others, the President of Panathlon International, Giorgio Chinellato, and International Board Member Fabiano Gino Maria Gerevini, who heads the international working group on Hikikomori syndrome.
Panathlon International is proud to have contributed to the achievement of this important milestone, which is the result of its dedicated efforts to foster dialogue and raise awareness amongst institutions on an issue of growing social significance.
live stream on the PI’s YouTube channel
IPACS publishes new fact sheet on artificial intelligence and corruption in sport
IPACS has published the Fact Sheet on Artificial Intelligence and Corruption in Sport, the first major output of the new Working Group dedicated to AI.
The publication has been added to the IPACS Tool Library and marks the launch of a new section dedicated to artificial intelligence, which will also host future resources on the topic.
The new Fact Sheet on artificial intelligence reaffirms IPACS’s role as an international benchmark for the development of tools to support integrity in sport. This is a path that Panathlon International follows and supports wholeheartedly, by participating in its initiatives and promoting a culture of good governance, transparency, and sporting ethics.
In the coming months, the publication will also be available in French and Spanish. The topic of artificial intelligence will also be explored in greater depth during the 9th IPACS Annual General Conference, scheduled for 2 October 2026
IOC provisionally lifts suspension of Russian Olympic Committee – Recommendations to IFs with regard to Russian athletes’ participation no longer applicable
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) that had been in effect since 12 October 2023. The decision was taken following a thorough analysis by the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission, considering that the ROC no longer includes as its members any regional sports organisations in territories falling under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine. In addition, the ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories. The IOC EB will continue to closely monitor the situation relating to any ROC activities in those territories, and reserves the right to take any further measures if deemed necessary.
With the qualification period for both the LA28 Olympic Games and the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games having started, and the need to offer equal access to these competitions to all athletes, the IOC EB decided that its recommended conditions of participation for International Federations (IFs) and international sports event organisers of 28 February 2022 and 28 March 2023 as they relate to Russian athletes and teams, including the protective measures, are no longer applicable.
In accordance with the Olympic Charter, and as applicable to all NOCs in general when selecting the athletes participating in the Olympic Games, the ROC must ensure that Russian athletes’ “selection [for the Olympic Games] shall be based not only on their sports performance, but also on their ability to serve as role models who respect, uphold and promote a peaceful society through sport as set forth in the Olympic Charter.” (Bye-law 2.1 to Rules 27 and 28).
YOULEAD: Transnational Project Meeting of European-Funded Project Concludes in Podgorica
The Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) of the Erasmus+ project YOULEAD, coordinated by Panathlon International, commenced on 23 June and concluded on 24 June in Podgorica, Montenegro. The two-day meeting brought together project partners to review the progress achieved so far and prepare the next phase of activities aimed at strengthening youth participation in sport governance.
During the first day of the meeting, partners analysed and shared the findings of the National Reports conducted in their respective countries. This work enabled the identification of common trends, good practices and valuable insights to support the next operational phases of the project. The discussions were further enriched by a review of the previously prepared literature review and recommendations, providing a solid evidence base for the project’s future actions.
The Steering Committee also convened on 23 June to review the overall progress of the project, assess the activities already implemented and discuss the forthcoming actions foreseen in the work plan.
The second day focused on a roundtable discussion that brought together a distinguished panel of experts from the fields of sport, education, youth policy and integrity. The session provided Consortium Partners with an opportunity to discuss their findings and present the initial concepts for the educational programme to be developed under Work Package 3. The exchange of experiences, perspectives and recommendations offered valuable insights that will contribute to the design and delivery of the project’s educational activities and outputs.
The roundtable featured Igor Vušurović, Olympic gold medallist from Sydney 2000, former Director responsible for State Administration for Sport and former Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Montenegro; Marija Jovanović, renowned Montenegrin athlete and Olympic silver medallist from London 2012; Neda Ojdanić, Director of the Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro; Miloš Ranitović, Secretary General of the Paralympic Committee of Montenegro; Prof. Dr. Jovan Gardašević, Dean of the Faculty for Sport and Physical Education at the University of Montenegro; Demir Purović, Administrator of the Podgorica Youth Centre; and Nikoleta Bulatović, former tennis player, coach and sports manager.
Fabio Figueiras and Lorenzo D'Ilario were present on behalf of Panathlon International
The Podgorica TPM reaffirmed the partners’ shared commitment to promoting more inclusive, informed and participatory pathways for young people within the world of sport and marked an important step towards the implementation of Work Package 3.
video
YOULEAD: Coordination Meeting on Quality Assurance and Evaluation
17 June 2026 - Representatives of Panathlon International, ICSS Europe and Sports Embassy held a coordination meeting within the framework of the European project YOULEAD, together with Ramon Crespo, the project’s External Evaluator.
The meeting marked the introduction between the partners responsible for the Quality and Review work packages and the External Evaluator, providing an opportunity to exchange views on the project’s quality assurance framework and evaluation approach.
Discussions focused on key monitoring tools, indicators and methodologies that will support the implementation of project activities and help assess progress towards the project’s objectives.
The meeting underlined the importance of close cooperation and a shared commitment to ensuring high standards of quality, effective monitoring and the long-term impact of the YOULEAD project.
YOULEAD is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme and aims to strengthen youth participation and leadership in sport governance across Europe.