A new chapter in the history of handball began on Thursday, 7 May, in Basel, Switzerland, as the International Handball Federation officially opened the doors of its brand-new headquarters in a ceremony that brought together some of the most prominent figures in world sport, and drew glowing praise from one of the most respected voices in the global sporting community.

Honorary IOC President Dr Thomas Bach was among the distinguished guests at the inauguration, and his presence alone spoke to the weight of the occasion. For Dr Bach, stepping inside the new IHF House was an experience that resonated far beyond the mere building.

"It is truly a great event for the handball family. To be here and share this inauguration with so many friends from across the handball world is very exciting. I can only congratulate the IHF on this new headquarters, it reflects the growth and dynamism of handball, and it reflects the ambitions of the IHF for the future of the sport. To be in an environment full of light, full of wonderful memories from great handball events... it is a great legacy."

Spanning six floors and a total area of 4,869 square metres, the new IHF House has been purpose-built to serve as the operational heart of the federation, home to 3,089 square metres of office and social spaces, 281 square metres of storage and 1,499 square metres of secondary usable areas, including parking. It will support the IHF's coordination with its 211 Member Federations across the globe, while also serving as an educational hub for coaching courses, development programmes, commission meetings and IHF forums.

 

Situated in a prime location in the heart of Basel, just a short walk from the city's historic old town, the building boasts outstanding connectivity, with the principal motorways just eight minutes away and the famous border triangle of Switzerland, France and Germany reachable in approximately ten minutes. EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg ensures seamless international access for the countless delegations and visitors expected to pass through these doors in the years ahead.

The walls of the new house set the tone for Thursday's ceremony, adorned with memorabilia and 125 photographs carefully selected from the IHF archive, images that span throughout the whole handball history, telling the story of the sport’s global journey. Among them, a striking photograph from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, capturing a sold-out Pierre Mauroy Stadium, with 26,548 spectators in the stands, at the quarter-final of the women’s competition between France and Germany, a reminder of just how far the sport has travelled. It was a world record for attendance.

"And of course, we have the photograph right behind us from Paris, a sold-out arena, over 26,000 people," Dr Bach noted.

On that point, Dr Bach was emphatic. Asked what handball means for the Olympic Movement, he did not hesitate: "The Olympic tournament at Paris 2024, held in Lille, was a tremendous enrichment of those Games. The spirit of the fans there was truly Olympic, and I believe it was a win-win situation, for handball, and for the overall success of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."

 

The ribbon-cutting, accompanied by the IHF Anthem, had earlier marked the formal start of a new era, with IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa, alongside Dr Bach, setting the tone for what the building represents.

For Dr Bach, the conclusion was simple and sincere: "This new house is truly impressive — but impressive in a very positive way. It is light, with wonderful natural light. You have space. You feel the dynamics of a sports organisation. And you can see how much people appreciate it — how, walking along the many photographs on the walls, they exchange memories and look ahead to an even brighter future for handball."