Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) approved the event programme and athlete quotas for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with both the 12-team men’s and women’s handball tournaments confirmed, featuring 168 athletes in each (336 in total). 

A number of International Federations (IFs) had proposed additional sporting events for 2024, with the International Handball Federation (IHF) submitting a proposal for beach handball to be included on the programme, following the continued worldwide growth of the sport and its success at its Olympic debut at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

However, after recommendations from the Olympic Programme Commission, the IOC Executive Board decided that no IF will increase their medal events, and, instead, made a reduction in the overall number of events, with a final programme of 329 medal events for Paris 2024, reduced from 339 for Tokyo 2020, plus a reduction in athletes from 11,092 at Tokyo 2020, to 10,500 for Paris.

In a statement announcing the decision, the IOC said:

‘In the post-COVID-19 world, limiting the overall number of events is a key element in curbing the growth of the Olympic programme as well as additional costs. Although the IFs had requested a total of 41 additional events, the IOC EB decided not to increase the number of events across any of the 28 sports in the initial programme, ensuring a fair and objective approach in applying this principle to its review of the event programme.’

The IHF has worked with the IOC for many years on promoting and showcasing beach handball. In 2015, IOC President Dr Thomas Bach attended an exhibition tournament on Lake Geneva featuring the sports’ superstars with the sport then subsequently admitted to the Youth Olympic Games programme in 2018 in the place of indoor handball.

The success and journey of beach handball was remarked upon by Dr Bach at Buenos Aires 2018 with the IHF then formally submitting a bid for inclusion at Paris 2024 in February. All possible efforts were exerted by the IHF with the support of the global beach handball community. Ambitions were high due to the possibility of additional sports being included in the Olympic Games programme.

However, with the information received and subsequent announcements, it is clear that due to the impact of COVID-19, including the negative effect on finances, the Games had to be optimised.

“In regard to beach handball, the Olympic Programme Commission and IOC Executive Board noted the outstanding work the IHF has done to continue to develop and promote this discipline, building on the success of the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and looking ahead with excitement to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. While it is not possible to add this to the Olympic programme for Paris 2024 due to the principles noted above, we look forward to further discussing its ongoing development and evolution with you ahead of future Olympic Games,” said the IOC in a letter to the IHF.

Despite the disappointment of this decision by all at the IHF and the global handball family, we will continue to work hard in promoting beach handball further, working closely with the IOC ahead of not only the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, but the postponed 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, where beach handball will be featured again. 

We also look forward to the Men’s and Women's Handball Qualification Tournaments for Tokyo 2020 in March, with the final teams qualifying through to the Summer Games in what is sure to be a captivating spectacle for global sports fans.