Get ready for the 2016 European Open Day of Handball

Following the huge success of the inaugural European Open Day of Handball in 2015 with more than a dozen member federations promoting handball across Europe, the EHF joins the European Week of Sport once again to bring its sport even closer to the public.

Just like last year the 2016 European Open Day of Handball will be part of the #BeActive European Week of Sport from 10 to 17 September 2016. The EHF has signed a promotional partnership agreement with the European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture concerning the European Week of Sport.

The EHF now invites all its member federations to join the project and promote handball on the national, regional and local level during the second European Open Day of Handball.

"We want to invite all member federations and their clubs to be involved this year to further promote the idea of #BeActive by contributing and giving a signal to the public how attractive handball-related activities can be for all," says project coordinator Helmut Höritsch.

A considerable contribution

"With your help the European handball community can show its strength to the public by voluntary activities at a national, regional and local level, initiated by national federations, clubs and local handball communities.

"Following the relative success of the campaign launched on short notice in 2015, we are convinced that the increased time to prepare this year will allow our sport to flourish in the public eye and make a considerable contribution to this Europe-wide campaign."

There is no limit to the day's potential as activities can range from street and beach handball to handball at school, handball fitness and wheelchair handball.

The key is to offer a great variety of activities at grassroots level for everyone. All activities can be organised on any court in- and outdoors with adapted court/goal sizes, distances and markings, suitable for all age groups.

"In principle everybody shall have the chance to take part, 'to touch the ball' and to become a member of an enhanced handball community, committed to physical and social activities," says Höritsch.

"Both the #BeActive European Week of Sport Messages as well as the EHF “European Open Day of Handball” shall create the ideal background for physical activities and social encounters between people."