The Mediterranean Sea town of Hammamet in Tunisia will host the second stage of the 2023 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour.

Four men’s and four women’s teams will compete in the event, which will take place from 20 to 22 June in the town located on the Cap Bon Peninsula, about 65km south of the capital city, Tunis.

“After the success of Stage 1 of the 2023 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour in Brazil in April, it is now Africa’s chance to shine,” said IHF Beach Handball Working Group Chair Giampiero Masi.

“Tunisia have been one of the leading lights of beach handball in the continent with both their men’s and women’s teams current holders of the African Beach Games titles having won gold at the first edition of the event back in 2019 in Cape Verde.

“Everyone connected with beach handball knows how important it is to have all six IHF continents providing strong teams and this stage will showcase how far the leading teams in Africa have progressed.”

The stage will also act as a test event for the beach handball competition of the 2nd ANOCA African Beach Games, which take place at the same venue from 24 to 26 June as part of the continental multi-sport event, which will be held in Hammamet from 24 to 30 June.

“It is really very exciting for us and we are working hard to succeed with this event and to promote beach handball and give a good image,” said Kamel Borgi, President of the Tunisian Beach Handball League, Member of the African Beach Games Organisation Committee and President of the African Handball Confederation (CAHB) Beach Handball Working Group, to ihf.info.

“In Tunisia, we have been working on beach handball since 2013 and have organised national beach handball championships every year in the form of tournaments on a variety of beautiful Tunisian beaches and our teams have also participated in several continental and international competitions.  

“We are noticing a great enthusiasm for the sport here, especially on the part of young people, and are working hard with them to solidify the sport amongst them and expand it throughout Tunisia. Beach handball in Tunisia is already well-established, but we want to see more and more people who want to practise it.

“It is a prestigious honour to be the first country in our continent to host a stage of the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour, and in addition to the competition on the sand during the stage, we will be collaborating with the CAHB to organise courses for referees and delegates under the guidance of IHF Experts – these courses will be open to anyone from the continent to attend.”

Stage 1 of the 2023 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was played from 26 to 30 April in Maricá, Brazil, with the host nation winning both the men’s and women’s titles.  

“We are progressing through 2023 steadily with the continued development of beach handball on the world stage,” added Masi, reiterating his statement to ihf.info ahead of the Maricá stage.

“This year is such an important year for the sport. The recently-concluded European Championships highlighted the strength and depth in that continent, and with the Tour being played across the world in addition to various other continental championships, we will see how the sport has grown and become truly global.

“In just over two months, the 2023 ANOC World Beach Games will be held in Bali and by the end of the year, we will also see the expected International Olympic Committee decision for the official inclusion of beach handball among the sports of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”

The IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was launched last year at the 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Greece and debuted in Gdansk, Poland, in July.