3rd Transnational Project Meeting of Sport Against Match-Fixing Consortium in Vilnius, Lithuania
Panathlon International is one of the Partners of the Consortium that is working on the Erasmus+ Project, Sport Against Match-Fixing (SAMF) which is a funded by the EU.
As part of the Project Agreement, the Partners gathered in Vilnius (Lithuania) from 28th of September to 30th of September for the third transnational project meeting (TPM).
On the 28th of September the Partners were welcomed by the Lithuania Football Federation (LFF), who organized the session, the hotel, as well as the meeting auditorium. After a warm welcome by the LFF, Sport Evolution Alliance (SEA) presented the SAMF Project to all of the present participants in the room. Apart from the Consortium Partners, the Ambassadors nominated by all Partners also travelled and participated to this meeting.
One of the key objectives of this meeting was to form and educate the Ambassadors, as they were chosen by the respective Partners. These Ambassadors will have to perform three Multiplier Sport Events (with minimum of 30 Athletes and duration of 1 hour). In total, Panathlon International had to nominate three Ambassadors and all of them will, with the help of Panathlon International, have to perform three events. Panathlon International’s Ambassadors are: Barbara Rossi (Panathlon Club Pesaro, Italy), Gwenda Stevens (Panathlon EU Brussels, Belgium) and Reinhard Seigner (Panathlon Club Graz, Austria).
After SEA’s presentation, all Ambassadors were asked to present themselves and explain their relation to sports, which was followed by a presentation of all of the deliverables that have been concluded so far, especially:
1) Comic Book - https://sportagainstmatchfixing.com/comic-book/
2) Toolkit - https://sportagainstmatchfixing.com/toolkit-download-in-your-own-language/
3) Poster - https://sportagainstmatchfixing.com/posters/
4) Videos - https://sportagainstmatchfixing.com/videos-first-person-stories/
5) Adapted Comic Books and Posters for Basketball – (link not available yet)
6) SAMF Game – (unfortunately, the Game is not yet available and couldn’t therefore be shown)
During these presentations, different questions were presented by the Ambassadors and which led to interesting debates and discussions by all of the participants.
After the presentation of all of the deliverables that have been produced, a Kahoot Game was done, which was oriented to the Match-Fixing topic and also to the previous points that were represented and all Participants took part in the Kahoot Game, which resulted in a very relaxing and funny moment for all of the participants.
The 28th of September was concluded with a tour guide through the old town of Vilnius, which was followed by a Dinner, organized by the LFF.
On the 29th of September, the Partners gathered in the early morning to proceed with the Sustainability activity, which is already an integral part of these meeting: planting trees to reduce the carbon footprint that all Partners leave by having to travel by plane. This activity is always a great opportunity for all of the Partners to come together and collectively contribute to the enhancement of their ecological footprint.
After this activity, the Partners met back at the Auditorium to discuss the Final Conference in Lisbon, which is scheduled to occur in April 2024. During this presentation it was stressed out by the Portuguese Football Federation (Coordinating Partner of the Consortium) that this Final Conference will be attended by international renown Stakeholders (e.g. UEFA, Political Authorities, etc.) and therefore requested all the Partners to suggest renown international Stakeholders, that are related to this topic and that can contribute to the elevation and dissemination of this Project.
Representing Panathlon International, Patrick Van Campenhout and Fábio Figueiras also participated in this meetings and actively contributed to the different discussions that were held during the day. It is important to mention, that Simona Callo, Monica Rossi, Patrick Van Campenhout and Fábio Figueiras have been actively working on SAMF by contributing to the different deliverables that have been agreed in the Project Agreement (amongst others, Toolkit elaboration, Focus Group organisation and conduction, different translations of Comic Book, Toolkits, Poster and other materials) and by also participating in the monthly online meetings of the Consortium.
Fábio Figueiras
Click here for the photogallery
From left to right: Gwenda Stevens (PC Belgium & PI Ambassador), Reinhard Seigner (PC Austria & PI Ambassador), Barbara Rossi (PC Italy & PI Ambassador), Fábio Figueiras (PI), Patrick Van Campenhout (PI), Juliane Robra (PC Switzerland & SEA Ambassador)
Panamerican Congress - Guayaquil Ecuador 5th October 2023
The 15th Pan-American Congress entitled 'El deporte es más que ganar o perder' began on Thursday, 5 October at the 'Oro Verde' hotel, in the presence of more than 100 delegates.
It was an excellent opportunity to strengthen the excellent relations of collaboration between the members of the Panathletic movement of Europe and America, but also to deepen current topics of the world of sport and to agree on further actions to guide the growth of Panathlon International.
The Congress program included a series of talks by experts in the field, covering a wide range of topics related to Olympism and the Panathletic movement.
The Panathletic Congress in Guayaquil was a successful event, with the participation of numerous foreign and local representatives, including President Zappelli and International Board members.
The organisers arranged a series of social, cultural and artistic activities, as well as tourist visits, to make the participants' experience even richer.
click here for the Photogallery
click here to read the program of the Congress
click here for final conclusions
PI institutional meetings - Meeting of the district presidents' committee
The PI institutional meetings continued: on 4 October, the District Presidents' Committee meeting was held at the Bankers Club. All district presidents or delegates were present, with only District President Austria Joseph Muller and Treasurer Stefano Giulieri remotely connected. The meeting was opened by International President Pierre Zappelli who, after thanking Ecuador District President Luis Danilo Carrera for the organisation and welcome, congratulated him on the large attendance and participation and explained the IB's decision to set up the Ethics Commission for the adoption of a code of ethics to be approved at the General Assembly. He then passed the floor to Secretary General Simona Callo for an update on the activities of the General Secretariat, who welcomed the new President of the Argentine District Jorge Minuto. Then IB member Luis Moreno took the floor to explain the development of the Plan de Desarollo, followed by Treasurer Stefano Giulieri to discuss the organisation of the District Presidents Committee meetings with a view to saving management and finding resources. The District Presidents, after a summary discussion of all the activity reports, drew up a final document that was submitted to the international board that joined the committee and will be available in the coming days.
International board and signing of a MoU with ODEBO
The first side engagements for the work of the Pan-American Congress in Guayaquil, to be held on 5/6 October, began. Upon the arrival of the international board members on 2 October at the Oro Verde Hotel, a ceremony took place to sign the collaboration agreement with ODEBO, the South American organisation for the Bolivarian Games. With this agreement, which is the first in South America, a new project of participation of South American clubs in the Bolivarian Games, which take place in seven South American countries, and the awarding of a Fair Play prize is born. ODEBO President Balthazar Medina - Colombian - and President Pierre Zappelli in the presence of the International Board signed this important collaboration agreement.
In the evening, the delegates present were invited by the President of the District of Ecuador Danilo Carrera and Guayaquil Club President Caesar Polit to a cocktail party that took place on the terrace of the Guayaquil bench with a view of the extensive city that lies on the junction of several rivers.
The following day, 3 October, a meeting of the International Board took place with Past President Giacomo Santini, Treasurer Stefano Giulieri and Board of Auditors member Marino Albani.
Among the various items on the agenda, there was a discussion on the Savings Commission and the hypothesis of finding resources. The International Board then gladly approved the constitution of the new Argentina District and approved the document, prepared by the working group, for the establishment of a PI ethics commission and a code of ethics to be approved at the General Assembly in Agrigento. It also noted with pleasure the continuation of the Erasmus Sport Against Match Fixing (SAMF) project and the appointment of three PI ambassadors to disseminate the results of this project.
The institutional meetings continue on 4 October with the District Presidents' Committee where the topics discussed will be taken up again.
At the end of the proceedings, the International Board was received by the governor of the province of Guayas, Francesco Tabacchi, and then attended the inauguration of the glories of Ecuadorian sport.
Click here for the Photo Gallery
We would like to remind all members that the European Week of Sport 2023 will start on Saturday 23 September!
The European Week of Sport will take place from Saturday 23 to Saturday 30, with the aim of promoting sport, healthy lifestyles and the physical and mental well-being of all European citizens. EWoS will take place simultaneously in 40 European countries!
Organise an event and send a report with videos and photos to the General Secretariat and we will publish your material on our website and social media!
Visit of the member of PC Gand Pascal Cornelis to the headquarters of Panathlon International
On Monday, 11th September, the member of the Panathlon International Club Gand Pascal Cornelis, accompanied by his wife, visited the international headquarters of PI in Rapallo. He also attended the convivial meeting organised by the Panathlon International Club Rapallo - Tigullio Occidentale.
Video of the evening with the PC Rapallo - Tigullio Occidentale
International President Pierre Zappelli presents the Panathlon International -CSIT World Games Award to the Israeli Avi Sagi.
PI is linked to CSIT by a partnership that began eight years ago. Since 2018, to bring the two Associations closer together, the two current Presidents decided to establish the Panathlon International/CSIT World Games Award as a recognition to deserving personalities from the world of sports ethics. During the last World Championships that took place in Cervia from 5 to 10 September, the International Board of PI, among the several nominations received, decided to award the Israeli Avi Sagi. During the Award Ceremony, which took place at the conclusion of the Games, PI President Pierre Zappelli said, "Avi Sagi has demonstrated a universalistic vision of sport in a politically divided world with his efforts to include athletes from all countries".
Click on the link for more event details
4TH WORLD FAIR PLAY DAY CEREMONY - 7 SEPTEMBER BRUSSELS.
The World Fair Play Day 2023 ceremony was held on Thursday 7 September. This 4th edition was marked by the exceptional presence of Berit Reiss-Andersen, President of the Norwegian Committee for the Nobel Peace Prize, who was presented with the 1st "Sport for Peace Award" of the European Fair Play Movement awarded to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. As part of the ceremony, the World Fair Play Calendar was presented.
Our International President Pierre Zappelli was present at the ceremony on behalf of Panathlon International.
The on-line Meetings of the Working Group for the Ethics Commission and of the President's Committee were held on 28th and 29th of August.
The Ethics Commission Working Group, appointed by the International Board and composed of: Pierre Zappelli International President, Giorgio Costa President of District Italy, Peter Wütrich President of District Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Mavi Tizón Member of Panathlon Club Lima and Simona Callo Secretary General, met for the second time in on-line meeting to discuss about one of the requirements provided by the IOC also for the Recognised Associations like PI, to have an Ethics Commission and to adopt a Code of Ethics in order to fall within the parameters of good Governance.
The participants at the meeting then discussed the role, composition, and purpose of this new Commission to be established by the International Board.
At the end of the meeting, the participants then undertook to produce a document summarising what had emerged, to be presented to the International Board, also highlighting the next steps to be taken in order to arrive at the adoption of a Code of Ethics for PI by the supreme body of our Movement, namely the General Assembly which, we recall, will meet in Agrigento on 14-15 June 2024.
The following day, the meeting of the PI President's Committee was held, on-line again.
Among the various items on the agenda, the participants dwelt on the commitments that have involved the Presidency and the General Secretariat since the last meeting on 6 June.
They focused on the activities related to the Erasmus project "Sport Against Match Fixing", which will see three PI ambassadors/panathletes, together with the project coordinators (Fabio Figueiras and Patrick Van Camphenout), take part in the next meeting scheduled to take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, at the end of September.
From this last meeting, before the final event in May 2024, the materials (brochures, comics, videos, etc.) and the results of the project will be finalised.
Other points under discussion, alongside the usual financial audits, were: the constitution of the Argentine District, the realisation of a recognition for Godfather Clubs and for Members with panathletic seniority, the organisation of the next institutional meetings to be held on the occasion of the Pan-American Congress of Guayquil in Equador, the fulfilments related to the organisation of the General Assembly and the Congress of Agrigento, the arrangements for the presence of PI at the next Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the verification of Statutes received from Clubs, requests for patronage, the contacts made with new Nations and International Federations and other topics to be followed up and developed, as well as the participation in upcoming international and Club events by the President or his delegates.
Please note that all IB and PC resolutions will be sent to District Presidents and Governors, and visible to Clubs in the reserved section of our institutional website following their translation into French and English.
Tuesday 8 August, the General Secretariat of PI, in the person of Barbara Aste, and the International Board Member Paul Standaert participated in the "demo" organised by #Beactive for the European Week of Sport 2023 that will take place from 23 to 30 September.
The demo was presented to guide NCBs (National Coordinating Bodies) and Partners through the process of submitting and validating events for the European Week of Sport. The demo aims to simplify the process of submission and validation of events and is of interest to all organisers.
