Earlier today, the draw was made for the 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships and 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Youth (U18) Beach Handball World Championships in Heraklion, Greece.

We hear from some of those involved…

Eleftherios Avgenakis
Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports and Member of Parliament for Heraklion, Greece Government

“Last October, I met with the IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, when the IHF granted Greece the right to stage this great event. I thank him for his support and believe he is a good friend of Greece and the Greek sports community.

“Greece has a national, master plan of bringing more major sports events like this one here to our country. The latest Greece cycling tour was a big hit, with great success and was equal to big tours that we see happening around Europe like the Tour de France and Giro d ’Italia.

“But we also need all of us to have a great, perfect cooperation between the federation and local authorities. Private companies need to also invest in sports, because only that way Greece will become a major sports hub. By becoming a sports hub Greece will only benefit.

“We have asked all the people here, the citizens of Heraklion, to come and watch these championships and I am sure that they will be thrilled with this sport. I will help beach handball find its position amongst the other team sports here in Greece and I embrace and support handball and beach handball.

“There will be more than 1,000 athletes coming here to Heraklion competing in 64 teams and I wish them all good luck.”

Giampiero Masi
Chairman, IHF Beach Handball Working Group

“On behalf of the IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, the IHF Beach Handball Working Group and all the ones who love beach handball, from our hearts, thank you for everything you did, you are doing and you will do to present to the world, your country and this fantastic island.

“I know perfectly your candidacy was a challenge in this very specific, special moment of our life. It's under the view of everyone. It's a very hard job you are doing, but we are now in one of the most exciting moments of the competition, the draw.

“I would also like to thank the Deputy Minister for the support, the Greece federation for the coverage of the candidacy and the Organising Committee for everything you are doing. Also, thanks to the people, to the authorities of the municipality of Heraklion, to the people who are working hard in front of and behind the stage.

“What I transfer to you today is the presence of the IHF in everything you have to do. We are supporting you. We are here to present to the world a top event and top competition. There is one month to go, but when we start to the competition we will be ready to show our best to everyone.”

Konstantinos Gkantis
President, Hellenic Handball Federation

“This is a great event for Greek handball, it's only the beginning of a series of events starting from next year's IHF Men’s World Youth Championships that will take place in Athens, as well as in Germany, and Heraklion will also stage the 2023 Mediterranean Beach Games.

“I want to thank the President of the IHF, Dr Hassan Moustafa, for putting faith in us to stage such big events – Heraklion will see four World Championships in one month. I also want to thank the municipality and the region of Greece for the support.

“The brand new venue here will be the legacy of these games for the city. I wish all national teams that will take part good luck.

“I ask all the youngsters here in Greece to watch beach handball, get to know beach handball and why not start practising beach handball.”

Konstantinos Violitzis
President, Local Organising Committee

“This is the biggest event that Greece will stage after the pandemic, with 64 different teams coming from 35 countries to Heraklion, Crete.

“As the Organising Committee we want to show everyone the beauty of Greece and the Cretan culture which is ancient. These championships are an investment for Greece. Heraklion and Greece will only benefit from major events like this.

“We have planned World Championship sessions to be held both in the morning and at night so everyone will be able to come and watch the games.”

Photo: Hellenic Handball Federation