Handball
The modern game of handball was first played towards the end of the 19th century in Denmark, Germany and Sweden. Recognition of field handball based on the games of "Raffball" and "Königsbergerball" occurred at the turn of the century. G. Wallström introduced Sweden to the sport of "handball" in 1910. [Full story]
Drawing of lots for the Olympic handball competitions
• Drawing of lots for the Olympic handball competitions (men's):
Group A: Poland (A1), France (A2), Croatia (A3), China (A4), Spain (A5), Brazil (A6)
Group B: Germany (B1), Denmark (B2), Russia (B3), Republic of Korea (B4), Iceland (B5), Egypt (B6)
• Drawing of lots for the Olympic handball competitions (women's):
Group A: Norway (A1), Romania (A2), France (A3), China (A4), Angola (A5), Kazakhstan (A6)
Group B: Russia (B1), Germany (B2), Hungary (B3), Republic of Korea (B4), Sweden (B5), Brazil (B6)
List of Events
- • handball Men
- • handball Women
Competition venues
Hall of Fame
Magnus Wislander Nicknamed "The Hose" because of his ability to slither through the defense, Magnus Wislander was voted World Handball Player of the Century in 1999. He first played for the Swedish national team on 16 January 1985 and continued to represent his nation through 2004.[Full story]
Athlete numbers:
Men 168 (12 teams x 14 players); Women 168 (12 teams x 14 players)
- PRINCIPLES
- RULES
- TIMELINE
- MEN
- WOMEN
| QUALIFICATION SYSTEM PRINCIPLES -- MEN AND WOMEN | ||
| Event | Qualification | Total |
| 2007 World Championships | The Men's and Women's World Champions 2007 are qualified | Men: 1 team Women: 1 team |
| Continental Qualifications | 1 men's team and 1 women's team qualify from each of the 4 continental federations: -- Africa -- Asia -- Europe -- Pan-America |
Men: 4 teams Women: 4 teams |
| IHF Qualifying | The remaining 6 (men) and 6 (women) teams qualify through IHF Qualifying Events |
Men: 6 teams Women: 6 teams |
| Host nation | The host nation automatically qualifies 1 men's team and 1 women's team |
Men: 1 team Women: 1 team |
| Total | Men and Women | 12 teams 12 teams |
Olympic handball tournament for men and women (12 teams):
a) 2007 World Championships (1 place)
The World Champion will qualify. If the host nation CHN is World Champion, the second-ranked team at the World Championship concerned qualifies
b) Host nation (1 place)
The host nation of the Olympic Games shall be automatically qualified
c) Continental Qualifications (4 places)
One team shall be qualified from each of the four continental federations (on the occasion of the Continental Championship concerned):
-- Africa
-- Asia
-- Europe
-- Pan-America
In the event that the 2007 World Champion (or the host nation) also wins the Continental Championship, the second-ranked team of the continental championship concerned will qualify.
The events to be staged at continental qualification events are noted under the qualifying timeline.
d) IHF Qualifying Tournaments (6 places)
The remaining six (6) teams are established as follows:
Three (3) tournaments (for men and women each) with four (4) teams participating in each (=12 teams). Participants:
-- Six (6) teams ranked 2nd to 7th at the 2007 World Championship (excluding those teams already qualified through continental qualification or as host nation)
-- The highest ranked team from each continental qualification event (excluding those teams already qualified)
-- 1 x Africa
-- 1 x Asia
-- 1 x Europe
-- 1 x Pan-America
-- 1 x ...*
-- 1 x ...* #
* These two places are allocated to the two best ranked continents at the 2007 World Championship.
# If Oceania is ranked between places 8-12 at the 2007 World Championship, it will be allocated this second place otherwise 'owned' by the continent which ranked second at the 2007 World Championship.
The first- and second-ranked teams from each of these three tournaments will qualify for the Olympic Games.
QUALIFICATION TIMELINE
| World Championships | |
| 19 January-4 February 2007 | Men's World Championship, (GER) |
| 2-16 December 2007 | Women's World Championship, (FRA) |
| Continental Qualifying | |
| Europe | |
| 17-27 January 2008 | Men's European Championship, (NOR) |
| 7-17 December 2006 | Women's European Championship, (SWE) |
| Asia | |
| 1-10 September 2007 | Men's Asian Qualifying round (JPN) |
| 25-31 August 2007 | Women's Asian Qualifying round (KOR) (KAZ -- reserve host) |
| Africa | |
| By end of Jan 2008 | Men's and Women's Africa Nations Cup for Seniors, site to be confirmed |
| Pan-America | |
| 13-29 July 2007 | Men's and Women's Pan-American Games, (BRA) |
| IHF Qualifying | |
| By end of May 2008 | IHF Men's Qualifying Round |
| By end of March 2008 | IHF Women's Qualifying Round |
| 1 June 2008 | Date by which qualification events must be completed and qualification places confirmed to the NOCs |
| TBC | Date by which NOCs must confirm the use of their places |
| 23 July 2008 | Deadline for Beijing 2008 Organising Committee to receive entry forms submitted by NOCs |
China (Host Country)
Germany (Champion of World Championships)
Brazil (Champion of Pan-American Games)
Egypt (Champion of Africa)
Denmark (Champion of European Championships)
Republic of Korea (Champion of Asian Qualifications)
Poland (IHF Qualifying Events)
France (IHF Qualifying Events)
Croatia (IHF Qualifying Events)
Iceland (IHF Qualifying Events)
Spain (IHF Qualifying Events)
Russia (IHF Qualifying Events)
China (Host Country)
Norway (Champion of European Championships)
Brazil (Champion of Pan-American Games)
Russia (Champion of World Championships)
Kazakhstan (Champion of Asia Qualifications)
Angola (Champion of Africa)
Germany (IHF Qualifying Events)
Sweden (IHF Qualifying Events)
Romania (IHF Qualifying Events)
Hungary (IHF Qualifying Events)
France (IHF Qualifying Events)
Republic of Korea (IHF Qualifying Events)
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