First-timer France bids for Women's EHF EURO 2018

2018 could mark a premiere in women's European handball as France bids for the right to host the Women's EHF EURO 2018.

Provided the nation's bid receives the majority of votes at the EHF Congress in Dublin on 19/20 September, it would be the first time that the EHF's flagship national team event comes to France.

The French Handball Federation has named seven venues in its bid book, with some of them having already hosted matches at the Men's World Championship 2001 and the Women's World Championship 2007.

For the preliminary round the federation has listed the Palais des Sports Beaulieu (capacity: 4,900) in Nantes, L'Arena (4,063) in Brest, Acropolis (5,000) and Le Parnasse (4,000) in Nice as their venues of choice.

For the main round the tournament would move to Les Arenes (5,000) in Metz and the Palais des Sports (6,780) in Pau, while the finals would take place in the impressive 14,000-capacity POPB in Paris-Bercy.

More information on France's candidature can also be found on www.eurohand2018.info

This article is part of a four-item long series presenting the potential hosts for the Men's and Women's EHF EURO events in 2018 and 2020 over the coming days until Thursday, 18 September.

It is the EHF Congress in Dublin on 19/20 September that will vote on the allocation of these four European Championships.

The bidding nations are the following:

Men’s EHF EURO 2018: Croatia

Women’s EHF EURO 2018: France

Men’s EHF EURO 2020: Austria/Norway/Sweden (joint bid)

Women’s EHF EURO 2020: Norway/Denmark (joint bid)