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.

In a special series of question and answers, IHF.info hears from players and coaches selected for the showcase. This time, it is the USA’s Drew Donlin, a serving member of both the US Air Force and US Space Force and one of the players at the event in Paris. 

IHF.info: How do you feel to be selected for this event?

Drew Donlin: I am extremely honoured to be selected for this amazing event, not only to get to compete with the best players in the world, but also to get to represent our sport in the best way possible on the world's largest sports stage.

IHF.info: Tell us about your Beach Handball career and your highlights so far…

Drew Donlin: I first started playing Beach Handball in the summer of 2015 when USA Team Handball began our national team programme in Los Angeles (Hermosa Beach), California. This was a very interesting and exciting time because it was also the exact same summer that I got assigned to Los Angeles Air Force Base for my first active-duty military assignment.

I have played Beach for Team USA and RIP Beach Handball Club in the US, as well as the indoor teams of Team USA, Ademar Leon (Spain), TSV Bayer Dormagen (Germany), California Eagles and San Francisco Cal Heat.

Overall, I think my biggest success has been helping lead Team USA to every major world championship competition since our inception in 2015.

IHF.info: What do you love about Beach Handball? / How does Beach Handball make you feel?

Drew Donlin: I love the Beach Handball community, the people who make our sport go. We are obviously not a professional sport yet so everyone who is involved is there because they love the game.

We make incredible sacrifices in time, money, and travel to train and compete at the highest level. I love getting to compete in some of the most beautiful places in the world with amazing people.

I feel blessed and fortunate to be a part of this community and even more grateful to get to represent my country and our sport in Paris.

IHF.info: What are your hopes for the future of Beach Handball and the Olympic Games?

Drew Donlin: All of us within the Beach Handball community know how amazing the sport is, but to have it recognised as part of the Olympic programme would be huge and would only raise the level of our sport for years to come.

IHF.info: What would you say to anyone who has never played or watched Beach Handball and is thinking of getting involved with the sport?

Drew Donlin: For many of my teammates and for me personally, Beach Handball has been a way to continue to compete at a high level in sport, an opportunity to represent my country, to travel the world, and to meet amazing people.

To anyone who is considering playing, I would encourage them to give it a try and have fun. In America, nearly everyone who plays Beach Handball never had any background in handball. It is a combination of so many of the sports we love, plus it's on a beach. What else could you ask for?

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).