4 Continental Championships
2000: 1st European Championship
In July 2000 the first European Beach
Handball Championship was
organized by the European Handball
Federation (EHF) in Gaeta near
Rome (Italy), which was the first
official International Championship in
Beach Handball.
The women’s team of Ukraine and
the men’s team of Belarus became
the first European Champions.
1
4 Continental Championships
2002: 2nd European Championships
At the 2nd European Championships in
2002 in Cadiz (Spain) the field of the
participating nations had already doubled
from 8 each onto 16.
Nearly all nations had also improved their
technical and tactical standards.
Spain, in a great final against Russia, won
the title of European Champion. In the
women’s competition, the Russian women
defeated Turkey.
2
4 Continental Championships
2004: 3rd European Championships
The third European Championships was
carried out as scheduled.
The competitions took place on the
beaches of the holiday destination Alanya
(Turkey) in July 2004.
Again, 16 nations competed in the men’s
and the women’s competition.
As Belarus had to withdraw surprisingly,
Switzerland joined the field of participants.
3
4 Continental Championships
Russia fetches the Double:
In the Men’s Competition, Russia
beat Germany. Turkey reached
the 3rd place ahead of previous
Champion Spain.
In the Women’s Competition
Germany beat Italy in the match
for place 3.
Russia defeated Croatia in the
final and therefore became the
first “double European
champion”.
4
4 Continental Championships
2004: 1st Asian Ch in Oman (Men)
As a qualifier for the 2004 World
Championships in Egypt, the 1st Asian
Beach Handball Championships for Men
were held in 2004 in Oman.
In the final Oman beat Bahrain, Pakistan
ranked 3rd ahead of Iran.
2004: 1st Asian Ch in Japan (Women)
As a qualifier for the women’s competition
of the 1st official World Championships,
the first Asian Women’s Beach Handball
Ch was carried out between Japan and
Hong Kong, which was won by host Japan.
5
4 Continental Championships
2006: Euro 2006 in Cuxhaven (GER)
After the World Games 2005 in
Duisburg the next international event in
Beach Handball took place in Germany
again in 2006. Cuxhaven was the event
holder of the fourth European
Championships in Beach Handball.
From 11th to the16th of July the games
took place at the „Stadium on the North
Sea“ where thousands of spectators
brought the spirit of the Football World
Cup to the beaches of Cuxhaven.
6
4 Continental Championships
Germany‘s first title:
In the Men‘s Competition Spain won
the title ahead of Hungary. Turkey
ranked third, ahead of Germany.
In the Women‘s Competition the
German women won the title for the
very first time against Russia. Croatia
ranked third.
7
4 Continental Championships
2007: 2nd Asian Ch in Bandar Abbas (IRI)
The second Asian Beach Handball
Championship was held in Bandar Abbas in
Iran from June 25-30, which was also the
qualifier for the Beach Handball World
Championship 2008 in Cadiz (ESP).
At this second Asian Beach Handball
Championship Pakistan ranked first, the
host Iran was second and Japan third.
Referee- and Delegate- courses were held
during this championship on behalf of the
IHF and were followed with big interest.
8
4 Continental Championships
2007: Fifth ECh in Misano Adriatico (ITA)
After seven years since the premiere in Italy
and three more continental championships
Italy hosted the biggest European Beach
Handball Championship so far.
At the beaches of Misano Adriatico (near
Rimini) 18 National Federations each (men
and women) competed for the continental
title in Beach Handball. Under the excellent
conditions of a beautiful holiday area the
championships took place from the 10th to
the 15th of July 2007. Newcomers, such as
Denmark, FYRO Macedonia and
Montenegro were also present.
9
4 Continental Championships
Croatia sends both teams to the finals:
In the women‘s competition the „usual
suspects“ were competing for the title.
The Croatian women won against the
reigning champion Germany. Norway
played an excellent tournament and
finally ranked third.
In the men’s competition, more teams
peaked in their performance. Reigning
champion Spain had to compete for
seventh place while at the final, Russia
was able to beat Croatia in the Shoot Out.
Hungary reached third place.
10
4 Continental Championships
Beach Handball into a new Dimension:
The 5th edition of the Beach Handball
European Championships marked a
milestone in the evolution of this young
sport.
Beach Handball reached a new dimension:
178 matches within six days, 36 teams from
21 different nations, incredibly high
spectators interest on the beaches of
Misano Adriatico and massive TV-coverage
by SKY and EUROSPORT 2 together with
Internet-Live-Streaming showed the high
interest and resonance all over Europe.
11
4 Continental Championships
2008: Pan-Am Ch in Montevideo (URU)
In Montevideo (Uruguay), the official PanAmerican Beach Handball Championships
took place in February 2008. The runner-up
Uruguay (in addition to the reigning World
Champion Brazil) qualified for the WCh in
Cadiz in both competitions.
In the women`s competition the Dominican
Republic ranked third, Brazil became
champion against Uruguay.
In the men’s competition, Argentina beat Chile
in the match for the third place. In the final,
Brazil beat Uruguay.
12
4 Continental Championships
2009: Sixth ECh in Larvik (NOR)
The 6th edition of the European
Beach Handball Championships
took place in Scandinavia, namely
Larvik, Norway.
23 national teams competed in
men’s and women’s tournaments.
The winners of the have been
decided in front over 2500
spectators baked in the 30 degree
heat in Larvik’s main court.
13
4 Continental Championships
Italy and Croatia won the title
Italy won the women’s title, in a
tense and thrilling match with the
Euro hosts, Norway. Despite the
loud support of the large home
crowd, the Italians took the first
period with a superb display of
Beach Handball.
In the men’s final it was the
World Champion Croatia who
won against the defending
European Champion Russia.
14