It is with great sadness that the IHF has learnt of the passing of the former President of the Polish Handball Federation, Andrzej Kraśnicki.

Kraśnicki was a prominent figure in the history of Polish handball, where he served at the President of the Polish Handball Federation (ZPRP) between 2006 and 2021, resigning from the position in February 2021, after a 15-year tenure.

Under Kraśnicki’s leadership, the Poland men’s senior handball team secured three of the four medals won at the IHF Men’s World Championship, arguably its most succesful period in history, with the silver at Germany 2007 still being the best performance of the Poland team in the world handball flagship competition.

Kraśnicki was also a former member of the Executive Committee of the Association of European Olympic Committees, an European representative on the Executive Council of the World Association of National Olympic Committees, and a member of the Foundation Council of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

In Kraśnicki's tenure, the Polish Handball Federation organized several prestigious events, including the 2018 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, the Men’s EHF EURO 2016, but also secured the hosting rights for the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, alongside Sweden.

He was also the President of the Polish Olympic Committee between 2010 and 2023, and a honorary President of both the Polish Handball Federation and the Polish Olympic Committee after completing his terms.

On behalf of the entire IHF handball family, the IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, would like to express his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Andrzej Kraśnicki and all of those who worked alongside him at the Polish Handball Federation and at the Polish Olympic Committee.