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: what do you love about Beach Handball and how does it make you feel?

Ivan Juric (CRO)
“I love everything about it. I love the game; I love competing and winning medals of course. I love hanging with my teammates before and after practice. I love traveling around the world. I made friends with people from other teams. It is one of the things in my life which fulfils me and makes me happy.”

Severin Henrich (GER)
“It is just pure joy. The moment you step on the court and feel the sand under your feet, your problems seem far away and you know you are going to have a good time.”

Magdalini Kepesidou (GRE)
“Beach Handball is a really spectacular sport. One thing that attracts me is the fact that in a short period of time we need to find ways to score or defend with one player less (without physical contact). It makes the players count not only on their physical abilities, but also on their mental ones. The fast pace of the game, combined with the in-flights or spin shots and blocks, make the game, in my opinion, unique.”

Mohamed Zaky (QAT)
“I’m in love with Beach Handball. I love the Beach Handball family and that we are all friends. I love its vibes. Mainly, it’s my comfort zone.”

Bruno Carlos de Oliveira (BRA)
“Beach Handball is an exceptional sport. What I love most is the atmosphere surrounding the game because it manages to combine sport, spectacle, entertainment, music and fair play. Beach Handball makes me feel incredible, playing in a world championship final with the energy of the fans and the music playing is amazing.”

Nathalie Sena (BRA)
“I love the fair play between athletes, spectacular plays, the outdoors, I love everything. I feel happy in the arena with my teammates.”

Lucian Bura (CRO)
“The things I love about this sport are traveling and meeting new people. With Beach Handball, I travelled to places I thought I would never go and met a lot of people around the world with whom I stayed in touch outside of the sport. Beach Handball radiates positivity and a sense of belonging, which connects people very easily.”

Łukasz Niedzielak (POL)
“I absolutely love the atmosphere of Beach Handball and the sense of unity among players and teams. It creates a wonderful community spirit. Beach Handball allows me to stay connected to the sport even after my indoor career and the drive to compete for titles is a great source of motivation for me.”

Martin Vilstrup Andersen (DEN)
“Beach Handball is, and has always been, the highlight of the year. It makes me happy to do something that I love, and being able to perform at a high level while doing it. The atmosphere, the fairness and all the people are the things I love the most. A bonus is to travel around the world doing it.”

Meike Kruijer (NED)
“I am happy when I play Beach Handbal. Every game requires focus and you feel a continuous rush of adrenaline. Each match could go either way. If the first set doesn't go your way, nothing is lost yet.”
 
Line Gyldenløve (DEN)
“Beach Handball is a sport with a lot of fight, but at the same time, joy and a good atmosphere. I love the spectacular element of the sport and it's very spectator friendly. I think that's great.”

Ivan Dumencic (CRO)
“Beach Handball is amazing. That summer vibe that this sport gives to all of us is something very alluring. Also, the element of competitiveness, competing on the biggest stage, especially if you are successful, gives you a high dose of adrenalin every time you stand on the sand. Whenever the summer season approaches, a feeling of anticipation begins to build in me until we reach the destination of the tournament.”

Cristiana Morgado (POR)
“Beach Handball is the perfect combination of two things I love: playing handball and being at the beach with the sun and close to the sea. Also, I love how the sport has the ‘wow factor’ with the stunts that can be done to score extra points.”

Renata Santiago (BRA)
“The Fair Play style of play and the dynamism of the sport.”

Attila Kun (HUN)
“All year long I have been waiting to be back on the sand. Beach Handball gave me the opportunity to travel to so many places and the atmosphere, well, you only know it if you try it.”

Thiago de Oliveira Barcellos (BRA)
“The atmosphere that the environment conveys Fair Play. I feel full of harmony, good energy and positive vibrations.”

Emese Tóth (HUN)
“To me, on the court, Beach Handball means freedom and self-confidence. I like that I have to think a lot as we are constantly one player less in defence and this is also a challenge for me, which I enjoy so much. Thanks to Beach Handball, I can visit the most beautiful places in the world, where it's warm and there's good music, even during the matches.”
 
Patricia Encinas Guardado (ESP)
“I like how fast it is. I love to play fast, that there are direct passes and my teammates with a single pass can score a goal. It makes me feel good, because the goalkeepers contribute a lot, and it is an important piece.”

Laszlo Nahaj (HUN)
“I took up Beach Handball like a child when he writes his lesson after school and is then let out to play on the playground. It is completely different from indoor handball. I really like to play with the opponent and force him as a goalkeeper to shoot.”

Péter Hadju (HUN)
“It’s a big family internationally and nationally too. It’s really good to know everybody at the tournaments. It’s a spectacular sport to watch and play too. I always feel fantastic when I have a chance to play, watch, or even just talk with Beach Handball friends.

Diogo Fereira (POR)
“I love everything about Beach Handball. It has one of the best atmospheres whenever it is being played, no matter where it is around the globe. The people that are playing it and those around them who help make everything happen, are incredibly nice people that have a burning passion for Beach Handball like me so it is a very remarkable feeling.

“As for the sport itself it is my passion, it’s a super-exciting, fast-paced game with lots of tactical and technical intricacies, lots of spectacular pirouettes, in-flights, passes and blocks all in the mix.”

Isabel Barnard (NED)
“I honestly think it might be the greatest sport in the world. On top of it being a spectacular sport itself, it also has all the extra elements: sunny weather, friends from across the world, seeing places you never thought you’d visit. It has enriched my life in a way I could never have foreseen before I started playing.”

Moritz Ebert (GER)
“I find the togetherness and the simultaneous competition in the sport very unique. You want to achieve the best possible result on the sand, but you are still close to your opponents after the game. In addition, the chilled-out feeling of the whole sport is really unique and very contemporary.”

Nahuel Perez (ARG)
“It makes me feels really good.”

Rianne Mol (NED)
“I love the atmosphere at tournaments. During the games, we all want to win, but after that, everyone mingles with each other and cheers on other teams.”

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).