Handball at the London 2012 Games is one of the 26 Olympic sports.
2012 Summer Olympic Handball Events Key facts
Venue: Handball Arena
Dates: Saturday 28 July – Sunday 12 August
Gold medals: 2
Athletes: 336 (168 men, 168 women)
General history of the sport
Handball has elements of both Football and Basketball – but it’s probably older than both. There are references to a sport very similar to Handball in ancient Greek literature.
The modern game was developed in Europe in the late 19th century, in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Originally played as ‘field handball’ on a football pitch and 11-a-side, Handball was based on the games of ‘Raffball’ and ‘Königsbergerball’.
An indoor 7-a-side version of the games was also very popular, with World Championships taking place regularly since 1938 (men) and 1957 (women).
During the 1960s, despite numerous rule changes intended to make the 11-a-side game more attractive, the faster, 7-a-side indoor version of Handball dominated. The last World Championship for field handball was played in Austria in 1966.
Today, fast-moving, high-scoring matches make Handball one of the most popular Olympic sports in continental Europe.
Handball at the Games
The International Amateur Handball Federation (IAHF) was set up for the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games. One of the founding members was Avery Brundage (USA) who subsequently became an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Chairman.
Handball made its first appearance in an Olympic Games in Berlin 1936, by which time the IAHF had 23 member countries. It was played outdoors on a football-sized pitch, by teams of 11 players for men only,
As the popularity of the sport developed, the IOC decided in 1965 to re-introduce the sport into the Olympic programme for men in Munich 1972. The women’s Olympic debut was in Montreal, 1976.
How the competition runs
In Handball, two teams of seven players pass and dribble a small leather ball using only their hands. The aim is to score a goal by throwing the ball past the defending goalkeeper in the other team’s goal net. The team with the most goals wins. Handball matches are played on indoor courts by both men’s and women’s teams.
It has been said that Handball is the fastest team ball sport. There is a great deal of physical contact and end-to-end action involving high jumps, powerful throws and spectacular agility.
Jargon buster
* Dribble: To move the ball by bouncing it on the floor.
* Jump shot: A shot attempted while leaping.
* Pivot: An attacking player who is usually found near the opposition’s goal area.
* Back: A player who shoots from the backcourt – usually tall, able to leap high and possessing a powerful shot.
* Centre back or Playmaker: A midcourt player who directs the team’s attacking play.
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