Handball

History of Handball
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 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 seven-a-side version of the game 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, seven-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.

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.
Field handball was a demonstration sport at the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games and became an Olympic sport in Berlin 1936, by which time the IAHF had 23 member countries.
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. 

Venue: Handball Arena (Preliminary rounds and women’s quarter-finals); Basketball Arena (Men’s quarter-finals, all semi-finals and finals)
Dates: Saturday 28 July – Sunday 12 August
Gold medals up for grabs: 2
Athletes: 336 (168 men, 168 women)

Where can I try Handball?
Aylesbury Handball Club
Handball Club list in Bucks

Bucks Athletes to follow
Bobby White
Huw Goodwin