Discovering the story behind the numbers is at the heart of every great sporting event, and The World Games have always offered plenty of remarkable statistics and records for fans and historians alike. In this article, we bring together the essential facts and figures from previous editions of The World Games, highlighting beach handball’s growth and the rich diversity of nations, athletes, and unforgettable moments that have shaped its legacy.

From the number of participating teams, goals scored, and host cities, to the nations making their debuts and the players setting new records, this overview charts the trends and milestone achievements that have defined The World Games through the years before the edition which is due to start on 7 August in Chengdu, People's Republic of China. Whether you’re looking for a snapshot of the sport’s global spread or a deeper dive into standout performances, these facts and figures celebrate the continued evolution and excitement of the sport on one of its biggest stages.

Beach Handball at The World Games: Facts and figures

0 – Beach handball can have no draws, if the sets are equal at the end of the match (1-1) it goes to a shoot-out.

0 – Lowest-ever points total in a set: 13/07/2022 Women’s Preliminary Round: Germany vs Australia 2-0 (28:0, 24:6)

0 – Lowest-ever shoot-out score from one team: 21/07/2005 Turkey vs Brazil 1-2 (5:10, 20:19, SO 0:4) Women’s Preliminary Round, 23/07/2005 Turkey vs Brazil 2-1 (10:16, 13:11, SO 5:0) Men’s 7-8 Placement Match, 04/08/2013 Colombia vs Australia 2-1 (20:12, 7:13, SO 4:0) Men’s 7-8 Placement Match.

1 – The first-ever beach handball game at The World Games took place on 23/08/2001 at the Honjo Marina in Akita, Japan and saw Spain beat Islamic Republic of Iran 2-0 (16:15, 19:15) in the men’s competition.

1 – The first-ever women’s beach handball game at The World Games took place on 23/08/2001 at the Honjo Marina in Akita, Japan and saw Germany beat People’s Republic of China 2-0 (22:5, 25:7).

1 – The first-ever shoot-out in beach handball at The World Games took place on 23/08/2001 at the Honjo Marina in Akita, Japan and saw Brazil beat Japan 2-1 (9:11, 9:8, SO 7:5).

1 – Chengdu 2025 represents The World Games debuts for China (men), Denmark (men and women), Portugal (men and women), Tunisia (men) and Vietnam (women).

4 – The lowest-ever shoot-out total is jointly held between the women’s preliminary group game on 21/07/2005 between Turkey and Brazil, 1-2 (5:10, 20:19, SO 0:4), and men’s 7-8 placement match on 04/08/2013 between Colombia and Australia, 2-1 (20:12, 7:13, SO 4:0).

4 – Times that Brazil and Croatia men’s sides have met in The World Games history – a long-term rivalry which will continue with this preliminary group clash at Chengdu 2025 on Friday 8 August. Brazil have won all four of their encounters, including a 2005 preliminary group win, semi-final wins in 2009 and 2013 and a gold medal match win in 2017.

5 – Amount of shots allocated in the first round of a shoot-out (not called a ‘penalty shoot-out’) if the game has ended 1-1 in sets. If the score after the first round of shots is equal, the second round starts but is sudden death.

7 – Brazil’s men are the only team in either gender to have appeared at every beach handball competition at The World Games (Akita 2001, Duisburg 2005, Kaohsiung 2009, Cali 2013, Wroclaw 2017, Birmingham 2022, Chengdu 2025).

8 – Out of the 10 Spain men’s squad are from Andalusia, with seven of the 10 under 25 years old.

9 – The World Games women’s reigning champions Germany are currently on a win-streak of nine games, having won all of their clashes at Birmingham 2022 (7) and their last two games at their last The World Games appearance (Duisburg 2005). In their three The World Games appearances so far (2001, 2005 and 2022), they have played 20 times, losing just five times, against Ukraine in 2001, in the group stage and final, against Brazil and Turkey in the group stage in 2005 and then Croatia in the quarter-final, after which their win streak started.

10 – The lowest-ever first set total in The World Games happened on 19/07/2009 in the women’s preliminary group game Ukraine vs North Macedonia 1-2 (4:6, 11:7, SO 2:5).

10 – Minutes allocated per set (two in total) per game. If the score is equal at the end of a set it goes to a ‘golden goal’ with the team scoring first winning that set.

12 – The lowest-ever second set total in The World Games happened on 21/07/2005 in the women’s preliminary group game Brazil vs Germany 2-0 (7:5, 7:5).

13 – The longest men's winning streak in The World Games history when Brazil won 13 games in a row, starting with victory on 18/07/2009 against Chinese Taipei on their way to gold at Kaohsiung 2009 (six wins), gold at Cali 2013 (five) and then eventual gold at Wroclaw 2017 despite losing their unbeaten streak in the preliminary group against Qatar on 27/07/2017. The three consecutive gold medals totalled 17 games with just that one loss.

16 – The lowest-ever men’s second set total in The World Games happened on 23/08/2001 in the men’s preliminary group game between Brazil and Islamic Republic of Iran 2-0 (13:4, 11:5).

16 – The total amount of teams at The World Games Chengdu 2025 (8 men’s teams, 8 women’s teams)

17 – The lowest-ever men’s first set total in The World Games happened on 23/08/2001 in the men’s preliminary group game Brazil vs Islamic Republic of Iran 2-0 (13:4, 11:5).

21 – The highest-ever women’s shoot-out points total happened on 25/08/2001 in the women’s gold medal match between Ukraine and Germany, 2-1 (17:16, 6:10, SO 11:10).

24 – The lowest-ever overall total points scored in a match (including shoot-outs) happened on 21/07/2005 in the women’s preliminary group game between Brazil and Germany 2-0 (7:5, 7:5).

25 – The age that Germany’s women player – and flagbearer for her country – Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar will turn on the opening day of action – Thursday 7 August. Her side, current The World Games and World Championship champions, will take on newly-crowned European champions, Spain.

27 – Different women’s nations have participated in The World Games beach handball competitions (including 2025): ARG, AUS, BRA, CHN, COL, CRO, DEN, ESP, GER, HUN, ITA,JPN, MEX, MKD, NOR, POL, POR, RUS, THA, TOG, TPE, TUN, TUR, UKR, URU, USA, VIE.

28 – The age Croatia’s Lucian Bura will turn on 14th August (14/08/1997). Bura was voted in as best right wing at both The World Games Birmingham 2022 and the 2024 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship.

29 – The age Portugal’s influential Tiago Costa will turn on 13th August (13/08/1996).

32 – Different men’s nations have participated in The World Games beach handball competitions (including 2025): ARG, AUS, BLR, BRA, BRN, CHN, COL, CRO, DEN, EGY, ESP, GER, HUN, IRI, JPN, NZL, OMA, PAK, POL, POR, PUR, QAT, RUS, THA, TOG, TPE, TUN, TUR,UKR, URU, USA, VEN.

33 – The lowest-ever overall total points scored in a men’s match (including shoot-outs) happened on 23/08/2001 in the men’s preliminary group game between Brazil and Islamic Republic of Iran, 2-0 (13:4, 11:5).

37 – Total nations who have participated in The World Games men’s and women’s beach handball competitions (including 2025): ARG, AUS, BLR, BRA, BRN, CHN, COL, CRO, DEN, EGY, ESP, GER, HUN, IRI, ITA, JPN, MEX, MKD, NOR, NZL, OMA, PAK, POL, POR, PUR, QAT, RUS, THA, TOG, TPE, TUN, TUR, UKR, URU, USA, VEN, VIE.

39  - The age the influential Portuguese captain Ricardo Castro will turn on 12th August (12/08/1986). Castro was voted in to the 2024 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship All-star Team as best goalkeeper last year.

41 – The highest-ever shoot-out points total happened on 23/07/2005 in the men’s 5-8 placement match between Brazil and Bahrain, 1-2 (22:9, 16:18, SO 20:21).

46 – The highest-ever women’s second set points total in The World Games history happened on 11/07/2022 in the women’s preliminary group game between Germany and Mexico, 2-0 (34:17, 28:18).

47 – Lowest points per game average in one, single women’s beach handball competition at The World Games (Akita 2001).

52 – The highest-ever women’s first set points total in The World Games history happened on 13/07/2022 in the women’s preliminary group game between Mexico and Argentina, 0-2 (18:34, 12:24).

53 – The highest-ever second set points total in The World Games history happened on 04/08/2013 in the men’s gold medal match between Brazil and Russia, 2-0 (26:16, 27:26).

54 – The highest-ever first set points total in The World Games history happened on 21/07/2005 in the men’s preliminary group game between Spain and Egypt, 2-0 (28:26, 24:18).

55 – Lowest points per game average in one, single men’s beach handball competition at The World Games (Akita 2001).

57 – Average points per women’s game in The World Games history (132 games played).

66 – Average points per game overall in The World Games history (266 games played – men and women).

72 – Highest points per game average in one, single women’s beach handball competition at The World Games (Birmingham 2022).

72.2% - Brazil’s men overall win rate at The World Games – played 36, won 26, lost 10.

74 – Average points per men’s game in The World Games history (134 games played). 

85 – Highest points per game average in one, single men’s beach handball competition at The World Games (Birmingham 2022).

96 – The highest-ever total points scored in a two-set (no shoot-out) men’s game happened on 13/07/2022 in the men’s preliminary group game between Brazil and New Zealand, 2-0 (32:18, 26:20).

97 – The highest-ever total points scored in a two-set (no shoot-out) women’s game happened on 11/07/2022 in the women’s preliminary group game between Germany and Mexico, 2-0 (34:17, 28:18).

98 – The highest-ever total points scored in a women’s game (including shoot-out) happened on 02/08/2013 in the women’s preliminary group game between Chinese Taipei and Norway, 1-2 (18:24, 21:20, SO 7:8).

118 – The highest-ever total points scored (including shoot-out) in The World Games history happened in the men’s main round game between Argentina and Croatia on 13/07/2022, Argentina winning 2-1 (26:24, 16:22, SO 16:14).

132 – Total games played in the history of The World Games women’s beach handball competitions.

134 – Total games played in the history of The World Games men’s beach handball competitions.

160 – Total athletes allowed to be nominated for The World Games Chengdu 2025 (10 per squad, 16 squads).
    
266 – Total games played in the history of beach handball at The World Games (men’s and women’s competitions: 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022).

978 – Total amount of shoot-out points scored in the history of beach handball at The World Games (men’s and women’s competitions: 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022).

7,622 – Total amount of points scored in the women’s beach handball competitions at The World Games (132 games).

8,177 – Total amount of second set points scored in the history of beach handball at The World Games (men’s and women’s competitions: 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022).

8,324 – Total amount of first set points scored in the history of beach handball at The World Games (men’s and women’s competitions: 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022).

9,857 – Total amount of points scored in the men’s beach handball competitions at The World Games (134 games)

17,479 – Total amount of points scored in the history of beach handball at The World Games (men’s and women’s competitions: 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2022).