International Handball Federation
The International Handball Federation (IHF) is the administrative and controlling body for handball and beach handball.[1] IHF is responsible for the organisation of handball's major international tournaments, notably the IHF World Men's Handball Championship, which commenced in 1938, and the IHF World Women's Handball Championship, which commenced in 1957.
| International Handball Federation | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Handball |
| Other sports | |
| Official website | www |
| History | |
| Preceding organisations | International Amateur Athletic Federation (1926 – 1928) International Amateur Handball Federation (1928 – 1946) |
| Year of formation | July 12, 1946 |
| Demographics | |
| Membership size | 209 members |
| Affiliations | |
| Other affiliation(s) | |
| Governance | |
| President | Dr. Hassan Moustafa |
| Honorary president | |
| Headquarters | |
| Address |
|
| Country | Switzerland |
| General director | Amal Khalifa |
| Official language(s) | English, French and German |
| Main organ | IHF Congress IHF Council |
| Finance | |
| Company status | Active |
| Operating income | CHF 7.24 million or US$ 7.84 million (in 2022) CHF 2.10 million or US$ 2.28 million (in 2023) |
| Sponsors | Gerflor Hummel International Sportfive Molten Corporation |
| Regions | |
IHF was founded in 1946 to oversee international competitions. Headquartered in Basel, its membership now comprises 209 national federations. Each member country must each also be a member of one of the six regional confederations: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Caribbean, Oceania, and South and Central America. Dr. Hassan Moustafa from Egypt has been President of the IHF since 26 November 2000.
History
The IHF was founded on 11 July 1946, in Copenhagen (Denmark) by representatives of eight national federations. The founding members were Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The first president of IHF was Gösta Björk from Sweden. Björk was replaced in 1950 by Hans Baumann from Switzerland. In 1954, the first IHF Men's World Championship, was conducted under the aegis of the IHF, in Sweden with the participation of six national teams. In 1957, the first IHF World Women's Handball Championship was held in SFR Yugoslavia with the participation of nine national teams. Handball was included in the Olympic Games for the first time under the auspices of IHF in Munich 1972 (men's tournament) and Montreal 1976 (women's tournament).
Structure
Laws and governance
IHF is headquartered in Basel, and is a federation established under the Law of Switzerland. IHF's supreme body is the IHF Congress, an assembly made up of representatives from each affiliated member association. Each national handball association has one vote, regardless of its size or handballing strength. The Congress assembles in ordinary session once in two years (odd years) after the IHF World Men's Handball Championship. The congress makes decisions relating to IHF's governing statutes and their method of implementation and application. Only the Congress can pass changes to IHF's statutes. The congress approves the annual report, and decides on the acceptance of new national associations and holds elections. Congress elects the President of IHF, its General Secretary, and the other members of the IHF Council. IHF's Council, chaired by the President, is the main decision-making body of the organisation in the intervals of Congress. The Council is composed of 18 people: the President, 5 Vice Presidents, and 12 members. The Council is the body that decides which country will host the World Championship. The President and General Secretary are the main officeholders of IHF, and are in charge of its daily administration, carried out by the General Secretariat. Dr. Hassan Moustafa is the current president, appointed in the year 2000 at the 28th Ordinary IHF Congress.
Six confederations and 209 national associations
The IHF is composed of six continental federations which organize continental championships held every other second year: African Handball Confederation, Asian Handball Federation, European Handball Federation, North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation, Oceania Continent Handball Federation, and South and Central America Handball Confederation. In addition to continental competitions between national teams, the federations arrange international tournaments between club teams.[2]
Until 2017, there were five continental confederations. On 14 January 2018, the IHF Council divided the Pan-American Confederation into the North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation and the South and Central America Handball Confederation. The authority to divide a continental confederation was assigned to the IHF Congress, but the 36th IHF Congress in 2017 authorized the IHF Council to divide the Pan-American Team Handball Federation.[3]
IHF presidents
| No. | Name | Country | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gösta Björk | Sweden | 11 July 1946 – 9 September 1950 |
| 2. | Hans Baumann† | Switzerland | 9 September 1950 – 9 February 1971 |
| Interim | Paul Högberg | Sweden | 9 February 1971 – 23 August 1972 |
| 3. | Paul Högberg | Sweden | 23 August 1972 – 25 July 1984 |
| 4. | Erwin Lanc | Austria | 25 July 1984 – 26 November 2000 |
| 5. | Hassan Moustafa | Egypt | 26 November 2000 – present |
† Hans Baumann died in office on 9 February 1971 due to illness.
IHF Executive committee
The following is the IHF Executive Committee for the term 2021 — 2025.
| Designation | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Hassan Moustafa |
| 1st Vice-president | Joël Delplanque |
| Treasurer | Anna Rapp |
| Executive members | Narcisa Lecușanu |
| František Táborský | |
| Managing director | Amal Khalifa |
IHF Council
The IHF Council is the IHF's main decision-making body between meetings of the IHF Congress. It is currently serving a 2021—2025 term.
IHF commissions
| Commission | Chairperson |
|---|---|
| IHF Commission of Organising and Competitions | Per Bertelsen |
| IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission | Per Morten Sødal |
| IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods | Dietrich Späte |
| IHF Medical Commission | TBD |
| IHF Commission for Development | Tomislav Grahovac |
| IHF Athletes' Commission | Karolina Kudłacz-Gloc |
| IHF Arbitration Commission | Lovro Badzim |
| IHF Arbitration Tribunal | Zoran Radojičić |
| IHF Ethics Commission | Hussein Moustafa Fathy |
- Italics means Acting Chairperson
IHF tournaments
- Handball
- IHF World Men's Handball Championship
- IHF World Women's Handball Championship
- IHF Men's Junior World Championship
- IHF Women's Junior World Championship
- IHF Men's Youth World Championship
- IHF Women's Youth World Championship
- IHF Emerging Nations Championship
- IHF Inter-Continental Trophy
- IHF Confederations Cup (proposed)
- Beach handball
- IHF Beach Handball World Championship
- IHF Youth Beach Handball World Championship
- IHF Beach Handball Global Tour
- Wheelchair handball
- Club handball
- Multi-sport events
Title holders
International title holders
| Competition | Men's Champion | Women's Champion |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup | Denmark (2023) (3) | Norway (2021) (4) |
| Handball Olympic Tournament | France (2020) (3) | France (2020) (1) |
| Emerging Nations Championship | Georgia (2019) (1) | — |
| Junior World Championship | France (2019) (2) | Norway (2022) (2) |
| Youth World Championship | Egypt (2019) (1) | South Korea (2022) (1) |
| Handball Youth Olympic Tournament | Slovenia (2014) (1) | South Korea (2014) (1) |
| IHF Inter-Continental Trophy | Kosovo (2019) (1) | Bulgaria (2017) (2) |
| Club World Cup | FC Barcelona (2019) (5*) | 1º de Agosto (2019) (1*) |
| Beach Handball World Championship | Croatia (2022) (3) | Germany (2022) (1) |
| Youth Beach Handball World Championship | Croatia (2022) (1*) | Spain (2022) (1*) |
Continental title holders
| Africa | Asia | Europe | Oceania | Pan-America | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Men's | Egypt (2022) (8) | Qatar (2022) (5) | Sweden (2022) (5*) | Australia (2014) (8*) | Argentina (2018) (7) |
| Senior Women's | Angola (2022) (15*) | South Korea (2022) (16*) | Norway (2022) (9*) | Australia (2016) (7*) | Brazil (2017) (10*) |
| Men's Continental Games | Angola (2019) (1) | Qatar (2018) (2) | — | Australia (2006) (2*) | Argentina (2019) (2) |
| Women's Continental Games | Angola (2019) (7*) | South Korea (2018) (7*) | — | New Caledonia (2007) (1*) | Brazil (2019) (6*) |
| Junior Men's | Egypt (2022) (13*) | Japan (2022) (1) | Spain (2022) (3) | Australia (2022) (5*) | Brazil (2017) (6*) |
| Junior Women's | Angola (2022) (10*) | India (2022) (1) | Hungary (2021) (2) | New Caledonia (2019) (1) | Brazil (2018) (9*) |
| Youth Boys | Egypt (2022) (7*) | South Korea (2022) (3*) | Spain (2022) (2) | French Polynesia (2022) (2*) | Argentina (2017) (8*) |
| Youth Girls | Egypt (2022) (4*) | Iran (2022) (1) | Hungary (2021) (2) | New Caledonia (2019) (2*) | Brazil (2018) (12*) |
| Boys' Continental Youth Games | — | Qatar (2013) (1*) | Germany (2022) | — | — |
| Girls' Continental Youth Games | — | South Korea (2013) (1*) | Hungary (2022) | — | — |
| Men's Club | Al-Zamalek SC (2019) (12*) | Al-Kuwait SC (2022) (1) | Barcelona (2021–22) (11*) | Sydney University (2022) (9*) | H. Taubaté (2018) (5*) |
| Women's Club | 1º de Agosto (2019) (6) | Kaysar Club (2019) (2*) | Vipers Kristiansand (2021–22) (2) | Sydney University (2022) (1*) | EC Pinheiros (2017) (1*) |
| Men's Beach Handball | — | Iran (2022) (1) | Denmark (2021) (2) | Australia (2019) (4*) | Brazil (2018) (7*) |
| Women's Beach Handball | — | Vietnam (2022) (1) | Germany (2021) (2*) | Australia (2019) (4*) | Brazil (2018) (4*) |
| Men's Youth Beach Handball | — | Iran (2022) (1*) | Sweden (2021) | Australia (2017) (1*) | Brazil (2017) (1*) |
| Women's Youth Beach Handball | — | Thailand (2022) (1*) | Hungary (2021) | American Samoa (2017) (1*) | Argentina (2017) (1*) |
- * = Record titles
Member federations
- Category A
- Algeria
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belarus
- Bahrain
- China
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Spain
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- I. R. Iran
- Iceland
- Italy
- Japan
- South Korea
- Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Slovenia
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- Slovakia
- Sweden
- United Arab Emirates
- Category B
- Category C
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- American Samoa
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Burundi
- Benin
- Bhutan ✝
- Belize ✝
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Central African Republic
- Cambodia ✝
- Canada
- Cayman Islands ✝
- Congo
- Chad
- Chile
- Ivory Coast
- Cameroon
- DR Congo
- Cook Islands
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cape Verde
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Great Britain
- Guinea-Bissau
- Georgia
- Equatorial Guinea ✝
- Ghana
- Greenland
- Grenada ✝
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guam
- Guyana ✝
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- India
- Ireland
- Iraq
- British Virgin Islands ✝
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Laos ✝
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Saint Lucia
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Macau,China
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Malawi
- Moldova
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Mongolia
- Marshall Islands
- Mali
- Malta
- Monaco
- Mozambique
- Mauritius
- Mauritania
- Namibia ✝
- Nicaragua
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Niger
- Nauru ✝
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Palestine
- Palau ✝
- Papua New Guinea
- North Korea
- Puerto Rico
- South Africa
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- South Sudan
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Thailand
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Timor Leste
- Togo
- Chinese Taipei
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu ✝
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- United States of America
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- ✝ means non-active member
Associated members
Regional members
IHF Awards
The IHF issues awards to organisations and individuals in recognition of their particular contribution to developing the sport of handball and the IHF.
These awards are:
- Hans Baumann Trophy (defunct after 2015, renamed as IHF President's Development Award)
- IHF Badge of Merit
- IHF Certificate of Merit
- IHF Cup of Honour and certificate
- IHF Hall of Fame
- IHF Honorary President and Honorary Members
- IHF Olympic Order
- IHF Plaque of Merit
- IHF President's Development Award
- IHF Referee's Badge of Honour
- IHF Referee's Diploma of Honour
- IHF Ring of Honour
- IHF World Coach of the Year
- IHF World Player of the Year
IHF partners
| Type | Partner |
|---|---|
| Official sportswear | Hummel International |
| Host broadcaster | Sportfive |
| Official ball supplier | Molten Corporation |
| Official floor supplier | Gerflor |
References
- ^ Krieger, Jörg; Duckworth, Austin (2021). "Annexation or fertile inclusion? The origins of handball's international organisational structures". Sport in History. 42 (2): 235–256. doi:10.1080/17460263.2021.1927810. ISSN 1746-0263. S2CID 236363980.
- ^ "Bylaws" (PDF). International Handball Federation. September 2007. p. 7. (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
- ^ "IHF statement related to Pan-American continent". IHF. 19 January 2018.
External links
- Official website