Although on-court handball activities are largely on hold throughout the world, IHF business continues as usual – albeit from a distance – with IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa holding a number of conference calls midweek. Dr Moustafa had meetings with the chairs of the IHF Commissions as well as the European Handball Federation (EHF), and addressed participants in the live online seminar for coaches in North and South America. 
 
On the agenda for the video meeting with the IHF Commission chairs were an examination of the current situation of Member Federations, top international events and national teams, as well as the overall economic situation for handball at present.

The group discussed general strategies for dealing with the COVID-19 crisis from an IHF perspective, one of which will include an increase in volume of educational materials for referees, coaches and delegates on the IHF Education Centre, as well as other online courses in cooperation with National Federations and Continental Confederations. 

In addition, the IHF events scheduled for the summer as well as those beyond were discussed. The status within different target groups was examined, including those National Federations set to contest the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Handball Qualification, those qualified for the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship, and Continental Confederations. 

The conversation regarding competitions continued in the video meeting with the EHF, where the Olympic qualification events, European qualification for the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship as well as the draw event, and the summer younger age category events were the key items on the agenda. In addition, the two governing bodies examined beach handball activities.  

The meeting with the EHF was attended by Dr Hassan Moustafa, General Director Amal Khalifa and Competitions Director Patric Strub on behalf of the IHF. From the EHF, President Michael Wiederer, Secretary General Martin Hausleitner, Chief Sport Officer Markus Glaser and Senior Manager Competitions Peter Sichelschmidt were in attendance. 

On call for the IHF meeting with Commission Chairs were Chairman of the IHF Commission of Organising and Competition Per Bertelsen, Chairman of IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission Ramon Gallego, Chairman of IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods Dietrich Späte, Technical Adviser Paul Landuré, General Director Amal Khalifa and Competitions Director Patric Strub.