Poland/Sweden 2023 COVID-19 Medical Precaution Plan released

13 Dec. 2022

Poland/Sweden 2023 COVID-19 Medical Precaution Plan released

Two years ago, at Egypt 2021, handball was the first team sport in the world to try to return to normal in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first mega sporting event took place with the goal of ensuring the implementation of the utmost medical precautions for the protection of all stakeholders involved.

All participating teams entered a protected bubble, with no fans present in the stands and a comprehensive testing policy, which included a mandatory COVID-19 PCR test every 72 hours.

The 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship proved to be a resounding success and became a benchmark for other competitions as the conditions evolved around the world.

Now, two years later, the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship will take place in nine venues in Poland and Sweden from 11 to 29 January, and the top priority of the International Handball Federation continues to be the health of its stakeholders, irrespective of the cost.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, the IHF and the two Local Organising Committees aim to safeguard the health of all stakeholders and reduce the risk of virus transmission. Despite the global vaccine rollout, an infection-free environment cannot be guaranteed.

Therefore, the “Poland/Sweden 2023 COVID-19 Medical Precaution Plan” has been developed and communicated to all teams before the start of the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship. 

The preventive measures to be taken before, during and after Poland/Sweden are stated in the plan, with the following key topics, points and recommendations, including but not limited to:

  • General information about COVID-19, including World Health Organization (WHO) information;
  • Infection transmission routes; 
  • Hygiene guidelines, including detailed information about hand and mask hygiene;
  • National Federation responsibilities at home before travelling to Poland/Sweden 2023, including a mandatory COVID-19 PCR test carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival;
  • Positive case management, with the current protocol in place subjective to the considerations of the epidemiological evolution;
  • International and local transportation procedures;
  • Travel guidelines and general provisions for the training and playing arenas.

Since the vaccine has been rolled out across the world in the last two years, the IHF decided to extend the procedure applied to 2022 events, which means that only fully vaccinated or recovered persons are entitled to participate in the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship. A person is considered recovered if he/she has a medical certificate of recovery from a COVID-19 infection after a positive PCR test carried out not more than 180 days before the last matchday at Poland/Sweden 2023, i.e. not before 2 August 2022.


Vaccination: 
The following stakeholders must be fully vaccinated or have recovered from a COVID-19 infection:

  • Participating teams – players and officials
  • IHF nominees (representatives, referees, technical delegates, event delegates, IHF office staff, IHF Media group etc.)
  • Organising Committee (all members who are in direct contact with the participating teams and IHF nominees).

All accredited media representatives (with access to Zone 4, i.e. media areas) are recommended to be fully vaccinated.

Further media precautions: All media representatives must wear a face mask when being in direct contact with the players and/or team officials in Zone 1 (field of play), Zone 2 (court surrounding area) and Zone 3 (Changing rooms/medical areas) at all times.

You can find the complete plan here