The long-awaited day is finally here. After more than three years of waiting, handball is back at the Olympic Games, with the women’s competition throwing off at Paris 2024 on Thursday, 25 July, with a full six-match card.

All the participating teams will take the court at the South Paris Arena 6, with the first of the 10 days with six matches scheduled both in the women’s and in the men’s competition providing some exciting clashes.

What to expect on the first day at Paris 2024? Don’t worry, we got you covered, as every day, we will select 10 key facts and figures which tailor the narrative of the competition.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games –  Preliminary round – Women’s handball competition

GROUP A

• 09:00 CEST Slovenia vs Denmark
• 16:00 CEST Germany vs Republic of Korea
• 21:00 CEST Norway vs Sweden

GROUP B

• 11:00 CEST Netherlands vs Angola
• 14:00 CEST Spain vs Brazil
• 19:00 CEST Hungary vs France

Krumbholz starts his seventh Olympic campaign: Reigning champions and hosts France aim for back-to-back titles on their home court and will throw off their campaign at 19:00 CEST, against Hungary. France’s coach, Olivier Krumbholz, has been on the bench of his side for every Olympic competition, starting at Sydney 2000, and will coach France for the seventh time at the Olympics, a record.

Hosts France aim to start the Olympics with a win for the fifth time in a row: In the last four openers at the Olympics, France have always won their match, but three of those wins came by three goals or less. This time around, France are also favoured, due to their status as reigning Olympic champions and reigning world champions, but will also feel a bit of pressure for the fans, with the South Paris Arena 6 being almost sold-out for the hosts’ match.

Katrine Lunde to write history: Four players are now tied for the largest number of appearances at the Olympic Games – Katrine Lunde, Marit Malm Frafjord, Seong Oh-Ok and Alexandra do Nascimento, with 32 matches. The Norway goalkeeper will take part for the fifth time at the Olympics and will become the player with the largest number of appearances after Norway’s match against Sweden, scheduled at 21:00 CEST.

Mørk sees all-time top goal scorer title within reach: In only two appearances at the Olympics, Norway’s right back Nora Mørk scored 114 goals, 21 less than the current record holder in the women’s competition, Brazil’s Alexandra do Nascimento. Mørk will be key for Norway, as they try to win their eighth medal at the Olympic Games.

Slovenia make debut against European powerhouse: There is only one side making its debut at the Olympic Games at Paris 2024, Slovenia, and they will open the competition, at 09:00 CEST, against Denmark, a team which has won a medal in each of the last three major international competitions. With experienced players like Ana Gros, Elizabeth Omoregie or Tjasa Stanko, Slovenia aim to make the quarter-finals at their maiden Olympic Games.

Denmark aim big in their return: In their first three appearances at the Olympics, Denmark lost a single match and won 16 of the 19 matches they played. Since Athens 2004, when they clinched their third gold medal, the Scandinavian side won a single match and finished ninth at London 2012. 12 years later, they are back for Paris 2024, with a big ambition for their fourth medal, after clinching the bronze at the 2021 and 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship editions, as well as the silver at the EHF EURO 2022.

The battle of the flag bearers in Netherlands vs Angola: African champions Angola and European powerhouse the Netherlands will collide at 11:00 CEST, in the first match in Group B. It is also a battle between two of the five countries – Denmark, Slovenia, Hungary, Angola and the Netherlands – who will have handball players as flagbearers at the Opening Ceremony. For Angola, right back Azenaide Carlos, who is at her fifth edition of the Olympic Games will have the honour, while for the Netherlands, it is left back Lois Abbingh, who will play for the third time at the Olympics.

Can Angola drop another surprise? Angola will play their 35th match at the Olympic Games, in their eighth consecutive appearance and four of their six wins came against European opposition: against Greece at Athens 2004, against Great Britain at London 2012 and against Romania and Montenegro at Rio 2016. Adding a draw against Spain in 2004, they have the penchant of performing at the Olympics, therefore they can spring a surprise in their match against the Netherlands on Thursday, at 11:00 CEST.

Germany revel in long-awaited return: The last appearances for the Germany women’s senior national team at the Olympic Games were Atlanta 1996 and Beijing 2008, when they secured one win in each edition. This time around, the ambitions are higher, and after a long, 16-year wait, Germany are back in business. The European side will make its debut at Paris 2024 against the Republic of Korea, at 16:00 CEST.

Spain eye to extend winning streak against Brazil: In the last six meetings between the two sides, Spain have a 100% winning record, including at the last two editions of the Olympic Games – 27:23 at Tokyo 2020 and 29:24 at Rio 2016. The last time the two sides met, at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, back in December 2023, Spain also clinched a 27:25 win. From that six wins, though, the biggest one was by a five-goal margin, underlining how close the matches between these two sides are. Brazil and Spain face off at 14:00 CEST.