Fight for global relevance: Cape Verden or the USA: Does handball have to “go to the diaspora”?

Juri Knorr denies a show match against the US boys with his handball colleagues-in a football stadium in New Orleans, right in front of the Super Bowl. That would be like Bob Hanning’s taste. “The goal must be to show young people alternatives to basketball, football or baseball. Perhaps there is even the possibility to play demo games directly in front of NFL or NBA games,” wrote the former DHB Vice President in the ” Sport picture “.

What initially sounds like a silly spinning mill has a serious background. Hanning is concerned about the global importance of handball. While the World Cup appearances of the DHB selection in this country lure millions of fans in front of the screens, many do not even know the game with the Harz ball in America, Africa or Asia. Maybe because people in these countries never have the opportunity to experience world-class handball live.

Hanning warns of “handball culture”

Since the turn of the millennium, with the exception of the tournaments in Tunisia (2005), Qatar (2015) and Egypt (2021), every World Cup took place in Europe. The trend will continue for the next few years. “Handball in Europe is very rooted and we should not be ashamed of it, but further develop this tradition and carry them into other continents,” said DHB President Andreas Michelmann of the German Press Agency. But how?

Hanning suggests that the tournaments continue to be aligned in traditional handball nations every four years. “In the sandwich years we go to diaspora and finance it out of our own pocket.” Otherwise, the 56-year-old continued a “handball monoculture”. So will there be a World Cup in Kuwait or on the Cape Verde Islands?

A picturesque idea – but a huge logistical challenge: “I don’t know to what extent the hall capacities in the countries fit. Many associations do not have the personnel capacity either, a tournament,” said Michelmann.

Large project in the USA: “America deserves handball”

At least something is happening in the USA. With the major project “America deserves handball”, the sport is to be made great in the country dominated by basketball and NFL. The initiator of the project is the Dane Mads Winther, who founded the company “Pro Handball USA” for this. Former world handball players like Mikkel Hansen or Nikola Karabatic are prominent ambassadors.

From 2026 an annual summer tournament with the participation of the large European clubs is to take place. The first edition will be in Las Vegas. So far, contracts with associations such as Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have been signed by men as well as Odense Håndbold and Györ. From 2028 at the latest there should be a professional league in the USA.

Michelmann sees global development

The status quo is of course ideal for the DHB. In the decade of handball, you are present and rare. The halls are full, the association coffers too and the international associations rave about the outstanding organization and infrastructure.

Nevertheless, Michelmann also sees global development. “That countries that are actually known as football nations are now more successful in handball. Brazil or Portugal or with cuts also Chile,” said the 65-year-old and demanded: “I am in favor of supporting these countries that are already have made on the way “.

The Olympic status wobbles?

The handball still thinks European. A problem that, according to Hanning, could threaten the Olympic existence in the worst case. After all, the global range and variety are an IOC criterion that determines whether a sport is Olympic or not. 2028 in Los Angeles and four years later in Brisbane is handball in the program – but what happens afterwards?

The fact that handball is flying out of the program seems to be excluded. Of course there are sports that play a larger role internationally. And yet handball games at the Olympics are a crowd puller. “The halls in Rio were rapp-full every day in 2016. In France,” said DHB board boss Mark Schober and dared the forecast: “I am convinced that the halls will also be full at the games in Los Angeles.”