On 7 October 2026, we held a coordination meeting to prepare the upcoming YOULEAD – Leading the Game Transnational Project Meeting in Seville.
Together with our Spanish hosting partner, we reviewed the logistics, programme and key activities for the meeting, which will bring the YOULEAD partners together to advance our work on gender-balanced youth leadership in sports governance.
The preparations are progressing well, with the Info Pack and programme now being finalised. We look forward to meeting again in Seville and continuing to move YOULEAD forward!
#YOULEAD #LeadingTheGame #ErasmusPlus #Sport #YouthLeadership #SportsGovernance #GenderEquality
Si informa che venerdì 16 ottobre 2026, a partire dalle ore 8.30 e fino al termine dell'intervento tecnico, le linee telefoniche della Segreteria saranno temporaneamente fuori servizio.
Nous vous informons que vendredi 16 octobre 2026, à partir de 8 h 30 et jusqu'à la fin de l'intervention technique, les lignes téléphoniques du secrétariat seront temporairement hors service.
Please be advised that on Friday 16 October 2026, from 8.30 am until the technical work is completed, the Secretariat’s telephone lines will be temporarily out of service.
In the prestigious setting of the Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Verona, as part of RelazionExpo, the conference “Sport that Builds Relationships” took place, dedicated to the role of sport as a tool for inclusion, personal growth, wellbeing and the development of human relationships.
The event provided an important opportunity to explore highly topical issues, confirming the tangible contribution of sporting activity to building positive bonds, strengthening a sense of belonging and promoting a culture based on respect, participation and solidarity.
The proceedings were opened by the International President of Panathlon International, Giorgio Chinellato, who highlighted the ethical principles and values underpinning the Panathlon movement and the role of sport as a universal language, capable of fostering dialogue, integration and community growth.
This was followed by contributions from International Board Member Fabiano Gerevini, who reflected on the importance of the relationships that are formed and strengthened through sporting activity; psychologist Federica Perolini, on the psychological aspects linked to interpersonal relationships; Emanuela Schiavini, on the relationship between health, wellbeing and sporting activity; journalist Giovanna Pastega, on the role of communication in conveying the values of sport; and Paralympic champion Sandra Truccolo, who gave a particularly moving account of the inclusive value of sport and its ability to transform difficulties into opportunities for personal and collective growth.
During the conference, various aspects relating to the educational and social dimensions of sport were explored in depth: from the promotion of authentic relationships and emotional skills to the contribution made to preventing distress, safeguarding mental and physical wellbeing, and building positive social networks.
Particular attention was paid to the ‘Seconda Chance’ project, presented by Giovanna Pastega and Sandra Truccolo, which aims to promote sporting activities within prisons as an opportunity for social rehabilitation, personal growth and reintegration. The project involves both prisoners and prison service staff, highlighting the value of sport as a tool for dialogue, mutual respect and the creation of new perspectives, even in the most complex contexts.
Considerable attention was also given to the phenomenon of Hikikomori and Panathlon International’s commitment to raising awareness of this growing social crisis. The speakers emphasised the role of sport as a practical resource for preventing isolation, boosting self-esteem, encouraging socialisation and contributing to pathways of inclusion and the restoration of relationships, in collaboration with families, schools, health professionals, educators and sports organisations.
A strong and shared message emerged from the speakers’ discussions: sport is not merely about competition or the pursuit of performance, but a true training ground for life, capable of fostering trust, genuine relationships, a sense of responsibility and new opportunities for individuals and communities.
The conference reaffirmed Panathlon International’s commitment to promoting a sporting culture based on ethics, inclusion and the empowerment of the individual, so that sport may continue to be a genuine driving force for human and social growth.
Panathlon International and Spain’s Fundación Miguel Induráin held an online meeting on 8 October 2026 to explore new opportunities for collaboration within the Erasmus+ Sport programme.
The meeting brought together Simona Callo, Monica Rossi and Fabio Figueiras from Panathlon International, and Marta Hernández Romero from Fundación Miguel Induráin, a public organisation based in Navarra, Spain.
Discussions focused on shared priorities, particularly gender equality, youth participation in sports governance, inclusion and the promotion of sporting values. Potential joint projects were also explored, with particular interest in initiatives supporting women's health and well-being through physical activity.
The meeting marks a positive step towards strengthening European partnerships and developing concrete initiatives that promote a more inclusive, accessible and values-based sporting environment.
6 october - The visit to Lausanne also represented another important opportunity to strengthen Panathlon International’s network of international partnerships. On this occasion, a collaboration agreement was signed with the International Catch’n Serve Ball Sports Federation (ICSBF), an international organisation committed to promoting an inclusive sport based on the values of equality, respect and fair play.
Relations between the two organisations had been consolidated during the CSIT World Sports Games in San Marino, when the Federation’s President, Elisabeth Speiser-Havel, was presented with an award by Panathlon International. That meeting had provided an important first opportunity for mutual understanding and dialogue, highlighting shared values, objectives and issues to be developed through a more structured collaboration.
The agreement was also signed in Lausanne by the Federation’s Vice-President, Milan Čupić, who had previously spearheaded the establishment of the Panathlon Club Croatia – Pula, confirming a relationship that combines the growth of Panathlon’s presence in the region with new opportunities for international cooperation.
6 October - International President Giorgio Chinellato is in Lausanne to attend the SportAccord Forum 2026, a major international event that brings together representatives from International Federations, the Olympic Movement and leading sports organisations, offering a significant opportunity for dialogue and the development of new relationships within the international sporting community.
During his stay in Lausanne, President Chinellato, accompanied by Past President Pierre Zappelli, also met with representatives of the International Olympic Committee at the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage.
The meeting provided an opportunity to present the main activities and projects promoted by Panathlon International, outlining their aims, progress and impact, as well as to explore possible areas of collaboration and new synergies with the Olympic Movement.
This was a significant opportunity to strengthen dialogue with international sporting institutions and consolidate Panathlon International’s role in promoting the ethical, educational and cultural values of sport.
Following last year’s participation, Panathlon International returns to RelazionEXPO, scheduled to take place from 8 to 10 October 2026 at the Great Guard Palace in Verona.
On Saturday 10 October, from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm, Panathlon will be the focus of the session ‘Sport that builds relationships – The values that unite the community’.
An opportunity to reflect on sport as a tool for inclusion, dialogue, participation and growth, capable of forging relationships and strengthening the sense of community. Speakers will include, amongst others, Giorgio Chinellato, President of Panathlon International; Sandra Truccolo, Paralympic archery champion; and other experts from the worlds of sport and social welfare. This event reaffirms Panathlon’s commitment to spreading its message and the values of sport beyond the competition arena, where sport becomes an opportunity to come together and build relationships.
KLAGENFURT – The President of Panathlon International, Giorgio Chinellato, spoke at the conclusion of the promoters’ contributions during the official presentation of the AlpeAdriaSport Network, the programme approved by the International Council and presented today in Klagenfurt.
The meeting was opened by the President of District Austria, Michael Ausserwinkler, and by the President of Panathlon Club Kärnten – Alpe Adria, Roland Peters, who introduced the general framework of the project and welcomed the representatives of the countries involved.
The promoters of the initiative then took the floor – Paolo Perin, Andrea Ceccotti, Milan Cupic, Giuseppe Falco, Miran Müllner and Stefano Ripanti – present either in person or through official messages. In their contributions they illustrated, motivated and supported the programme, highlighting the cooperation between Austria, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia for the growth and dissemination of Panathlon values through joint initiatives.
After the promoters’ interventions, Giorgio Chinellato delivered his concluding remarks, underlining the strategic value of the AlpeAdriaSport Network and the importance of cross border cooperation in strengthening the mission of Panathlon. Below is the text of his speech.
"Dear friends,
I am particularly delighted to be with you here in Klagenfurt for this International Sitting Volleyball Tournament, which represents not only a significant sporting event but also the first concrete step in the Alpe Adria Sport project.
Having listened to the speeches by International Board Member Paolo Perin and the representatives from Croatia, Slovenia and Austria, as well as the Governors of Alto Friuli and Emilia-Romagna–Marche, who have wholeheartedly supported and guided this initiative, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to them all. Special thanks go to our Austrian friends for hosting this event.
This initiative demonstrates how collaboration, synergy and the willingness to work together can give rise to a new and innovative network linking clubs, regions and different countries, under the auspices of Panathlon International.
I am therefore delighted to welcome this new initiative, which fits perfectly within the vision of our Movement: to promote integration, dialogue, shared projects and joint actions, in line with the values of the Olympic family.
The first activity was held today: the International Sitting Volleyball Tournament, but many other initiatives are in the pipeline. Among these, I would like to highlight the project linked to caregiving, which has the potential to become a travelling initiative across Europe, bringing the values of Paralympic sport, inclusion and support for people with disabilities to different regions.
Alpe Adria Sport has therefore got off to a very promising start. On behalf of myself and the whole of Panathlon International, I would like to thank those who had this brilliant idea and those who worked to make it a reality. Special thanks go to Paolo Perin, who believed in this project from the very beginning and has pursued it with passion and determination.
Let us therefore continue along this path, together, in the Panathletic spirit, to develop new joint projects and, through sport, strengthen the bonds of friendship, inclusion and collaboration between our countries.
Thank you to everyone, and ad majora!"
The presentation took place at the end of two intense days of activities, during which congratulations were extended to the President of District Austria, Michael Ausserwinkler, for the exceptional organisation of the tournament. He received acknowledgements from Andrea Ceccotti, Governor of Area 12, for the quality of the organisation, and from the President of the Expansion Commission of Panathlon International, Paolo Perin, as appreciation for the contribution he is giving to the spread of the Panathletic movement.
With the delivery of the programmatic and constitutive document of this open network, the presentation of the Panathlon – AlpeAdriaSport Network initiative came to a close. It is a project that places collaboration at its core and promotes the dissemination of Panathletic values through the strength of its international dimension and through shared initiatives across the territories of the Alpe Adria region.
Venice, 19 September 2026 – During the evocative Flambeau d’Or ceremony, held at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista to mark Panathlon’s 75th anniversary, the International Council wished to present International President Giorgio Chinellato with a particularly meaningful surprise, conferring upon him the prestigious Domenico Chiesa Award.
The award was presented on behalf of the International Council as a token of esteem and gratitude for his dedicated efforts in promoting the values of Panathlon and sport, ethics, fair play and friendship between individuals and nations.
It was an unexpected, moving and symbolic moment, taking place in Venice itself – the city where the first Panathlon Club was founded in 1951 and which, 75 years on, has once again welcomed the Panathlon Movement to celebrate its history and look to the future.
It was an honour that President Chinellato received with great emotion, sharing it in spirit with the entire International Council and the whole Panathletic family.
