In this first month of 2024, IHF Beach Handball Working Group Chair Giampiero Masi talks to ihf.info about a number of topics, including a review of the past 12 months, what is coming up in 2024 and where the sport is currently.

IHF Beach Handball Working Group Chair Giampiero Masi: “At the end of each year it is customary to draw up the balance of the season that has just ended and look ahead to the year that is beginning by talking about goals, both sporting and commercial.

“The start of the season represents a new challenge, but challenges, whether technical or sporting, are part of our DNA. We always look to the future with great optimism, treasuring our experiences and with the aim of consistently raising the bar of our results.

“I always say that our credibility has been built over the years through the seriousness, consistency and quality of the product that we have always put at the centre of our projects.

“As is well known, international events are our showcase and important benchmarks from a technical and organisational point of view, but 2023 was a year of transition, a year of planning and preparation for 2024, a year in which I consider the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will have a real perception about the enormous potential of Beach Handball.”

A worldwide sport continuing to expand

“Every year, the goal of the International Handball Federation (IHF) and the IHF Beach Handball Working Group (BHWG) working together is to achieve technical and organisational growth that promotes our sport on all of our continents.

“Many times we expect immediate results but experience leads me to say, without fear of contradiction, that only middle and long-term and diversified planning according to needs can bring lasting results.

“Last year saw our continental federations engaged in qualifiers for the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships and the ANOC World Beach Games in Bali (Indonesia), as well as the numerous continental and national competitions around the world and not forgetting the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour.

“The ANOC World Beach Games, just a few weeks before their start were cancelled by ANOC which strongly affected the activities of the qualified national teams who then found themselves in an unexpected situation to manage and without alternative programming.

“Despite this setback, we saw countries such as Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, Republic of Korea, Philippines and the People’s Republic of China emerge in Beach Handball, nations who, if they devise the right investment plans, will soon be able to play an important role in our sport.

“And staying with Asia, I wouldn't be surprised if the Islamic Republic of Iran and Vietnam are the next ‘outside’ challengers in future events.”

A fixture in the global sporting calendar

“2023 consolidated the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour’s position as an event of the highest technical and promotional content.

“The first two stages, in South America (Maricà, Brazil) and Europe (Płock, Poland), brought innovations on an organisational level, innovations which can be used as a model for future events.

“Stage three, in Africa (Hammamet, Tunisia), opened the door to a new approach from the various African national federations towards Beach Handball.

“The interest shown by Kenya, Algeria, Togo and Mali amongst others, and meeting with the President of the African Handball Confederation (CAHB), shows a clear sign of a rosy future for our sport on this continent. It is worth noting the confirmation of Tunisia and Morocco at the top of Beach Handball in Africa.

“And then the finals stage in Asia (Doha, Qatar). This was an unforgettable experience over two days – an organisational, technical and public success. A pure technical spectacle with impeccable organisation.

“Now we are in the final stages of planning the 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour with announcements of where it will be stopping this year to come.”

Moving on and developing

“During the COVID-19 period there was intense activity between coaches and referees online/remotely consisting of various meetings and webinars, many of which saw high-profile figures involved.

“Despite those circumstances back then, it was a moment in which we were able to stay close to Beach Handball thanks to this intense shared collaboration and great deal of activity.

“Last year, in light of that experience, we reshaped the BHWG with a new approach. Identifying new ‘Area Coordinators’, but, above all, with the enlargement of each area to a series of experts with whom to discuss the various issues of interest.

“With this work we can look at where our sport is in 2024:

• Beach Handball is practised on all six IHF continents by more than 130 countries
• 10 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships have been held since 2004, organised in four different continents
• Globally-speaking, Beach Handball is listed as official sport of the IOC Youth Olympic Games, the IWGA The World Games and the ANOC World Beach Games
• Beach Handball will be showcased at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
• The IHF Beach Handball Global Tour is now an established, worldwide event
  “But this success must be shared with the IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, the IHF Director General Amal Khalifa, the Governing Bodies, IHF Office and staff, my colleagues at the BHWG and all the Continental Federations.

“Above all though, it is the athletes and coaches, without whom, we would never have achieved these results.”