International_Handball_Federation
International Handball Federation
International sports governing body organizing team handball
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 | ihf |
| History | |
| Preceding organisations | International Amateur Athletic Federation (1926–1928) International Amateur Handball Federation (1928–1946) |
| Year of formation | 12 July 1946; 77 years ago (1946-07-12) |
| Demographics | |
| Membership size | 209 members |
| Affiliations | |
| Other affiliation(s) | |
| Governance | |
| President | 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. Hassan Moustafa from Egypt has been President of the IHF since 26 November 2000.
 |
The IHF was founded on 12 July 1946, in Palace Hotel 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.[2] 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).
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. 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.[3]
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.[4]
| 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.
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 |
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.
| 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
- 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
International title holders
| Competition | Men's Champion | Women's Champion |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup | Denmark (2023) (3) |
France (2023) (3) |
| Handball Olympic Tournament | France (2020) (3*) |
France (2020) (1) |
| Emerging Nations Championship |  Cuba (2023) (1) |
— |
| Junior World Championship | Germany (2023) (3) |
Norway (2022) (2) |
| Youth World Championship |  Spain (2023) (1) |
 South Korea (2022) (1) |
| Handball Youth Olympic Tournament |  Slovenia (2014) (1*) |
South Korea (2014) (1*) |
| IHF Inter-Continental Trophy | Cuba (2023) (1*) |
 Bulgaria (2017) (2) |
| Club World Cup | SC Magdeburg (2023) (3) |
 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 (2024) (9) |
 Qatar (2024) (6) |
France (2024) (4) |
 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 (2022) (3) |
— | Australia (2006) (2*) |
Argentina (2023) (3*) |
| Women's Continental Games | Angola (2019) (7*) |
 Japan (2022) (1) |
— |  New Caledonia (2007) (1*) |
Brazil (2023) (7*) |
| Junior Men's | Egypt (2022) (13*) |
Japan (2022) (1) |
Spain (2022) (3) |
Australia (2022) (5*) |
Brazil (2017) (6*) |
| Junior Women's | Angola (2023) (11*) |
South Korea (2023) (16*) |
 Hungary (2023) (3) |
New Caledonia (2023) (2*) |
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 (2023) (5*) |
Japan (2023) (1) |
France (2023) (2) |
New Caledonia (2023) (3*) |
Brazil (2018) (12*) |
| Boys' Continental Youth Games | — | Qatar (2013) (1*) |
Germany (2023) (3*) |
— | — |
| Girls' Continental Youth Games | — | South Korea (2013) (1*) |
France (2023) (2) |
— | — |
| Men's Club | Al-Zamalek SC (2019) (12*) |
 Al-Kuwait SC (2022) (1) |
SC Magdeburg (2022–23) (4) |
University of Queensland (2023) (1) |
H. Taubaté (2018) (5*) |
| Women's Club | 1º de Agosto (2019) (6) |
 Kaysar Club (2019) (2*) |
Vipers Kristiansand (2022–23) (3) |
University of Technology Sydney (2023) (1) |
EC Pinheiros (2017) (1*) |
| Men's Beach Handball | — |  Iran (2022) (1) |
Hungary (2023) (1) |
 New Zealand (2022) (1) |
Brazil (2018) (7*) |
| Women's Beach Handball | — |  Vietnam (2022) (1) |
Germany (2023) (3*) |
Australia (2022) (5*) |
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
- Category A[definition needed]
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
- French Guiana
- Guadeloupe
- Martinique
New Caledonia
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
| Type | Partner |
|---|---|
| Official sportswear | Hummel International |
| Host broadcaster | Sportfive |
| Official ball supplier | Molten Corporation |
| Official floor supplier | Gerflor |
- 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.
- "IHF statement related to Pan-American continent". IHF. 19 January 2018.
