On the ultimate day of the World Handball Championship, the DHB was clearly critical of the group in Poland and Sweden.
Disappointed with ultimate weekend at Handball World Cup: DHB CEO Mark Schober.
photos of imago
At one level, everybody agreed. “It should not occur once more,” DHB chief govt Mark Schober stated on Sunday, on condition that the 2 World Handball Championship semi-finals and ultimate weren’t performed on the identical venue.
The cause: Defending champions Denmark have been alleged to qualify for the Stockholm ultimate towards Spain on Friday in Gdansk, Poland. Record-setting world champions France, in the meantime, have leapfrogged co-hosts within the Swedish capital and are set for a troublesome journey on Sunday night time (9pm, LIVE!). “It’s good to have the identical situations for everybody. That’s why our conclusion: from the expertise in Poland and Sweden, the final weekend shouldn’t be shared,” stated DHB president Andreas Michelmann.
This shouldn’t be a difficulty within the German EM home subsequent 12 months (January 10-28, 2024). Next 12 months, the World Handball Championship will likely be extra attention-grabbing if will probably be held in three international locations. Croatia, Denmark and Norway are the venues.
Sporting director Axel Cromer beforehand described the implementation of the World Cup schedule as a “catastrophe” for Handball Week. “What some groups and international locations have been requested to do in phrases of travel at this World Cup, for instance, is unacceptable for prime athletes,” criticized the 46-year-old. .
“Increase” in viewers.
This drawback additionally affected the German followers. It was solely on the night of the quarter finals that it was determined the place the DHB qualifiers would proceed within the event. The venue for the eighth spherical might stay in Gdansk, however a transfer to Stockholm was additionally attainable. In the tip, it was Germany’s first opponent who had a transparent benefit. Egypt had already reached the quarter-finals within the Swedish capital, so there was no want for a tough journey.
Criticism was primarily directed on the IHF World Federation. In each Poland and Sweden, DHBs have “skilled superb hosts,” Michelman added, including, “We don’t have any complaints in regards to the halls and inns.”
In addition, the viewers’s response to the video games with out the participation of the presenters additionally prompted confusion. In the final German sport towards Algeria, for instance, solely 2,350 spectators needed to observe the sport on the location. Michelman spoke of “rising” numbers. It is unlikely to be an issue at subsequent 12 months’s handball championship in Germany.