On 22 and 23 January 2026, the YOULEAD consortium gathered in Rome for the project Kick-off and Alignment Meeting, hosted by Panathlon International at Hotel degli Aranci. The meeting was officially opened by Panathlon International President Giorgio Chinellato and Secretary General Simona Callo, who underlined the strategic importance of YOULEAD in strengthening inclusion, democratic participation and youth empowerment in sports governance. 

During the two-day meeting, partners presented their organisations, areas of expertise and expected contributions to the project. The consortium also discussed the overall project framework, the work packages, governance structure, communication flows, financial and administrative aspects, and the first operational steps. Particular attention was given to research activities, inclusive governance, dissemination, monitoring and the development of future project outputs. 

The Rome Kick-off represented a key moment to build a shared vision among partners and to confirm the common working path towards promoting gender-balanced youth leadership and more inclusive decision-making in sport. The next steps include the launch of the needs assessment phase, continued coordination among partners and the preparation of the following project meetings.