Handball is a dynamic and fast-paced team sport that has its roots in Scandinavia and Germany, dating back to the late 19th century.
European Origins
The modern game of handball began to take shape towards the end of the 1800s in Northern Europe. Field handball emerged as a recognized sport at the turn of the century, with G. Wallström introducing “handball” to Sweden in 1910. This laid the foundation for the organized sport we know today.
First Competition
The sport gained further international recognition with the establishment of the International Amateur Handball Federation (IAHF) in 1928, coinciding with the Olympic Games in Amsterdam. This event led to the first Field Handball World Championships held in Germany in 1938, following the sport’s demonstration at the 1936 Berlin Games.
Rival Codes
From 1938 to 1966, handball was played in two distinct forms at separate World Championships: the traditional outdoor 11-a-side game played on a football pitch and a newer, more popular 7-a-side indoor version favored by Scandinavian countries. This period marked the evolution of handball into its modern format.
Olympic History
After the 1936 Berlin Games, field handball was discontinued as an Olympic event, although it returned as a demonstration sport in 1952 in Helsinki. The indoor variant made its Olympic debut at the 1972 Munich Games, where Yugoslavia triumphed, winning the first gold medal after a competition involving 16 men’s teams.
Women’s handball was introduced to the Olympics in 1976 at the Montreal Games, with the Soviet Union claiming the inaugural gold medal in this event. This marked a significant milestone in the sport’s history, as both men’s and women’s competitions were held, showcasing the growth and global appeal of handball.