From 27 to 29 July, the ‘IHF Beach Handball Showcase’ will take place on the fringes of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

Three men’s and three women’s All-star Teams, plus the French men’s and women’s national teams will play Beach Handball games across three days coached by six world-renowned, medal-laden coaches.

In total, 64 (32 men, 32 women) of the world’s best Beach Handball players from 18 countries will feature, including players from Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Islamic Republic of Iran, Netherlands, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, United States of America and Uruguay. 

IHF.info speaks to some of those involved in the global spectacular in this special series of features in the lead-up to what is sure to be a spectacular event.

This time, we ask the players: how do you feel to be selected for the ‘IHF Beach Handball Showcase’?

Severin Henrich (GER)
“It is a great honour to be selected in this special group. I am very excited and can’t wait for it to happen.”

Magdalini Kepesidou (GRE)
“I wish I could find the proper words to describe my feelings but whatever I say wouldn’t be enough to fully describe my pure excitement and joy I feel for this selection.”

Mohamed Zaky (QAT)
“My feelings of being selected to this event is indescribable, mixed between happy, proud and grateful. Most of all, I feel like it’s the last jewel in my career crown.”

Bruno Carlos de Oliveira (BRA)
“I have a feeling of gratitude because I dedicated my time knowing that Beach Handball is an instrument of human development, transforming lives and educating young people and children.”

Ivan Juric (CRO)
“Like every athlete in the world, I have been dreaming to participate at an Olympic Games. Although this is a showcase event and not an official sport event in the Olympic Games programme, I am honoured and very happy to be a part of it.

“I am grateful to be selected to what is practically world's All-star Team in Beach Handball, the best of the best. This is like a half of dream coming true. The other half would be fighting for an Olympic medal.

“I can't wait for end of July to board a plane and fly to Paris. I'm looking forward to playing side-by-side with some of my sports rivals and my Beach Handball friends. I'm already feeling that I am part of something bigger, part of the Olympic movement.”

Rianne Mol (NED)
“I am of course very honoured to have been selected for this event. I am happy that we get to promote our sport with this group of athletes.”

Nahuel Perez (ARG)
“I'm very proud to be representing Argentina beach handball.”

Moritz Ebert (GER)
“I feel very proud and honoured to be among all these stars at the IHF Beach Handball Showcase.”

Isabel Barnard (NED)
“I feel very honoured. I can’t wait to be surrounded by all these amazing players and show the rest of the world all the great things about Beach Handball.”

Diogo Ferreira (POR)
“I feel incredibly honoured to be called for this showcase. When I first learned that I was selected I couldn't hold my tears. I love this sport with all I have, so to be a part of this huge step that will go down in Beach Handball history and representing my country makes me feel tremendously grateful.”

Péter Hadju (HUN)
“I’m very happy about it. This is the last thing in my career what I want to catch. This is the top of our fantastic sport.”

Laszlo Nahaj (HUN)
“I am very happy and a little surprised to be able to participate in the event. It is a great honour to be able to represent my country in the world team.”

Patricia Encinas Guardado (ESP)
“I am very excited to be part of something so wonderful as representing Beach Handball worldwide.”

Emese Tóth (HUN)
“It is a great honour for me to be invited to such a prestigious event. I am very happy that the officials have decided that my place is among the best players in the world. I am very much looking forward to – and excited to play – as a member of the All-star Team.”

Thiago de Oliveira Barcellos (BRA)
“I have no words to describe what I'm feeling, I feel honoured, because it's a dream not only for me but for the entire global Beach Handball community.”

Renata Santiago (BRA)
“I’m too happy. I’m still in disbelief. It was truly a dream and my biggest goal. I’m very flattered to have been chosen among so many qualified athletes.”

Santy Rodriguez (URU)
“It's crazy and beautiful to be able to live it. I take it as a huge, very big challenge, I am going to represent all of Uruguayan Beach Handball and that, in addition to being a great emotion, is a responsibility.”

Attila Kun (HUN)
“I am honoured to be selected among the players, and I am really happy that I can be part of this enormous event.”

Cristiana Morgado (POR)
“I am very happy and excited. It is a big event, with the best players in the entire world, so it is an amazing opportunity to play against and together with them. I play indoor handball in France and I know Paris, a beautiful city, so I am also looking forward to have the opportunity to see how the city will be with all the athletes there for the Olympics and also with everyone coming to see the events and support it.”

Ivan Dumencic (CRO)
“I feel amazing knowing that I am one of only this small number of players selected for this occasion. The dream of every sportsperson is to participate in the Olympics, and although this is not an official Olympic event, knowing that we will be there as a small part of it, feels amazing and very special.”

Line Gyldenløve (DEN)
“I am very proud and honoured to be one of lucky ones.”

Meike Kruijer (NED)
“It' s an honour to put Beach Handbal on the map alongside other players from different countries around the world. You don’t experience this often, which makes it very special.”

Martin Vilstrup Andersen (DEN)
“I’m very honoured to be a part of this event. To be selected among so many great Beach Handball players is something I only hoped and dreamed about. It’s also a motivation to keep working harder; that someone acknowledges the amount of hard work and hours I’ve put into this sport. I’m super excited and looking forward to it more than anything.”

Łukasz Niedzielak (POL)
“Being selected for this event is an incredible honour and I am filled with pride as the only player to represent my country. As a child, I always dreamed of participating in a major sporting event, and now that dream is becoming a reality. I am truly happy and excited to be a part of this event.”

Lucian Bura (CRO)
“The only feeling that can be compared to this is when I received the first invitation to play for the Croatian national team. It could be described as happiness or excitement, but the real feeling of it cannot be described.”

Nathalie Sena (BRA)
“Being selected for this event is an indescribable feeling. A film plays in my head with countless moments lived inside the arenas. A dream for me and every athlete: the Olympics.”

The IHF Beach Handball Showcase is a collaborative effort between the IHF, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (COJOP2024), French Handball Federation (FFHB) and International Olympic Committee (IOC).