The German Handball Federation (DHB) is hoping for a noticeable boost in development in the self-proclaimed “decade of handball” with four major events organized in Germany.
“We fought very hard to hold the tournaments and would like to use their radiance to significantly increase the relevance of handball in Germany,” said DHB CEO Mark Schober before the executive committee meeting on Tuesday. Sport should not only be discussed at world and European championships in January, handball should be “present in public perception all year round”.
The primary goal is to attract new members and fans. “We want to get more girls and boys interested in handball, especially people with a migration background, and improve the structures for the clubs,” said Schober. The opening game of the home European Championship on January 10, 2024 is set to set the standard as a world record game and will take place in front of 50,000 spectators in the Düsseldorf Arena. Almost 10,000 tickets have already been sold, said Schober.
The U21 World Cup will be held in Germany in 2023 before the European Championship. The European Championship will be followed by the 2025 Women’s World Cup, organized jointly with the Netherlands, and the 2027 Men’s World Cup.