Panathlon International was represented in Brussels at the Erasmus+ Sport Info Day, a key European event bringing together policymakers, institutions, and sport organisations to discuss the future of sport in Europe and the priorities of the Erasmus+ Sport programme. Panathlon International was represented by Fábio Figueiras, responsible for Erasmus+ projects and member of the CCSE of Panathlon International.
The event opened with a high-level round table moderated by Sophie Beernaerst (EACEA) and featuring European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, responsible for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, alongside representatives of the European Parliament and national sport authorities. Discussions highlighted sport as a public good and a powerful tool for inclusion, health prevention, education and social cohesion, with grassroots sport identified as the foundation of the European Sport Model.
A key message was the strong demand for Erasmus+ Sport funding: only 13–14% of applications are currently supported, despite the high quality of projects submitted. This underlines both the competitiveness of the programme and the importance of well-structured, values-based initiatives.
During the event, Panathlon International also had the opportunity to exchange directly with Commissioner Glenn Micallef, presenting the organisation’s mission and ongoing work in ethics, integrity, education and sport values. The Commissioner was informed that he will receive a formal invitation to attend Panathlon International’s Congress in 2026.
The Info Day also marked the first public presentation of the preliminary results of the EU consultation on the European Sport Model, reaffirming principles such as sporting merit, solidarity between elite and grassroots sport, good governance, volunteering and community engagement.
Alongside the institutional sessions, Panathlon International strengthened its international network through meetings with sport federations, NGOs, innovation hubs and academic institutions from across Europe, further reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in European sport projects.
Panathlon International remains fully committed to contributing to a values-based, inclusive and ethical sport ecosystem in Europe, in line with the objectives of Erasmus+ and the European Sport Model.
