There are less than 45 days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which may seem like a long time to go, but the 24 participating teams in the men’s and women’s competitions are starting to feel the pressure and are ready to go towards the final hurdles before the throw off.

With so little time to go until the start, preparations are in full fledge and with a 14-player roster, plus three substitutions available, the coaches for the participating teams have had to make some difficult decisions before the start of the competition, which will be hosted by the South Paris Arena 6 in France’s capital and the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, from the knockout phase.

There are still plenty of days before the throw off, but with training camps already scheduled and friendly matches due to be played, teams have made their choices, with the rosters already announced by the participating teams varying from 17 to over 20 players, with the final lists due to be determined closer to the throw off.

At the Olympic Games the number of athletes is due to the regulations of the IOC limited and different than in World Championships. The IHF has however successfully managed to improve the quota of players from 14 Aa athletes + 1 Ap alternate athlete to 14 Aa athletes + 3 Ap alternate athletes. Each Ap Athlete can replace an Aa athlete in case of injury or sickness as a permanent replacement, but with the provision that an athlete that is replaced cannot take part in the competition anymore.

Hosts and reigning Olympic champions France have 21 players at their disposal, with the first training camp starting in Tignes, from 20 June. There are no big surprises in the roster, with stalwarts like Ludovic Fabregas, Kentin Mahe, Dika Mem, Melvyn Richardson or Nedim Remili making the cut, as well as Nikola Karabatic, who will retire after Paris 2024.

“After the EHF FINAL4 in Cologne, we have announced this roster and we can finally say that the preparation for the Olympic Games has started,” said France’s coach, Guillaume Gille.

"A balancing act"

World champions Denmark have also announced their roster, with coach Nikolaj Jacobsen selecting 20 players. Mikkel Hansen, the three-time IHF Male World Player of the Year, who will retire after Paris 2024, made the cut, as did the 2023 IHF Male World Player of the Year, Mathias Gidsel.

“It is a balancing act to hit the spot, because it is difficult with only 14 players to guard against everything. With potentially eight matches in 16 days, you have to find out how to distribute the forces and at the same time be able to resist if an injury occurs. So, there is a lot of thinking involved,” says Jacobsen.

Spain have also relied heavily on their core, with experienced players like Joan Canellas, Gedeon Guardiola or Antonio Garcia Robledo making their cut for what is likely to be their last edition of the Olympic Games, with Canellas already announcing his retirement at the end of the competition.

Sweden are also one of the candidates for the gold medal and will bring plenty of experience to the fore, as Jim Gottfridsson or Albin Lagergren were selected for their third edition of the Olympic Games. Star goalkeeper Andreas Palicka is also in the provisional roster.

“The Olympics are big and I think everyone dreams of experiencing it. We know how difficult it is to get to the Olympics, so we are very humble about the task and enter the summer with great motivation and belief in what we are doing. We dream of fighting for the medals, but we don't know yet what kind of teams the other countries will bring. What we know in advance is that there are two extremely tough groups and that all the quarter-finals will be tough. But our goal is to make our best championship ever and then we'll see how far it goes. When we are at our best, we know we can beat everyone,” says Sweden’s coach, Glenn Solberg.

Germany, which finished fourth at the EHF EURO 2024, have made some slight tweaks in their provisional roster for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with an average age of the team of 26.5 years old, as 17 players were selected in the roster, including left back Marko Grgic, who made his debut in the national team only in May.

Argentina and Japan have also named their provisional team, as for the latter side, Spanish coach Carlos Ortega, who replaced the departed Dagur Sigurdsson, named his first squad, as he embarks on an exciting journey after winning the EHF Champions League Men with Barça.

Provisional rosters - Men's Paris 2024 Olympic Games

DENMARK

Goalkeepers: Niklas Landin (Aalborg Håndbold), Emil Nielsen (Barça), Kevin Møller (SG Flensburg-Handewitt)

Wings: Emil Jakobsen (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Magnus Landin (THW Kiel), Niclas Kirkeløkke (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Hans Lindberg (Füchse Berlin)

Backs: Mikkel Hansen (Aalborg Håndbold), Simon Pytlick (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Rasmus Lauge (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg), Mads Mensah Larsen (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Thomas Arnoldsen (Aalborg Håndbold), Lasse Andersson (Füchse Berlin), Mathias Gidsel (Füchse Berlin), Mads Hoxer (Aalborg Håndbold)

Line players: Magnus Saugstrup (SC Magdeburg), Simon Hald (Aalborg Håndbold), Emil Bergholt (Skjern Håndbold), Lukas Jørgensen (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Henrik Møllgaard (Aalborg Håndbold)

SPAIN

Goalkeepers: Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (Barça), Rodrigo Corrales (MKB Veszprém), Sergey Hernández (SC Magdeburg)

Wings: Ferran Solé (Paris Saint-Germain), Aleix Gómez (Barça), Kauldi Odriozola (HBC Nantes), Angel Fernández (Limoges Hand 87), Miguel Sánchez-Migallón (SL Benfica Portugal), Daniel Fernández (TVB Stuttgart HB)

Backs: Álex Dujshebaev (Industria Kielce), Ian Tarrafeta (Pays d'Aix UCH), Petar Cikusa (Barça), Joan Cañellas (Kadetten Schaffhausen), Agustín Casado (MKB Veszprém), Antonio García (Fraikin Granollers), Daniel Dujshebaev (Industria Kielce), Jorge Maqueda (HBC Nantes), Imanol Garciandía (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged)

Line players: Abel Serdio (Orlen Wisla Plock), Gedeón Guardiola (Viveros Herol Nava), Javier Rodríguez (Barça)

SWEDEN

Goalkeepers: Andreas Palicka (Paris Saint-Germain), Tobias Thulin (GOG), Mikael Appelgren (Rhein-Neckar Löwen)

Wings: Hampus Wanne (Barça), Lucas Pellas (Montpellier HB), Daniel Pettersson (SC Magdeburg), Sebastian Karlsson (Montpellier HB)

Backs: Jonathan Carlsbogård (Barça), Karl Wallinius (THW Kiel), Felix Claar (SC Magdeburg), Jim Gottfridsson (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Jonathan Edvardsson (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Albin Lagergren (SC Magdeburg), Lukas Sandell (Telekom Veszprem HC)

Line players: Max Darj (Füchse Berlin), Oscar Bergendahl (SC Magdeburg), Andreas Nilsson (Telekom Veszprem HC)

CROATIA

Goalkeepers: Matej Mandić (RK Zagreb), Dominik Kuzmanović (RK Nexe), Filip Ivić (Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Handball), Sandro Meštrić (Industria Kielce)

Wings: Marin Jelinić (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Mario Šoštarič (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Filip Glavaš (RK Zagreb), David Mandić (MT Melsungen)

Backs: Marko Mamić (SC DHfK Leipzig), Zvonimir Srna (RK Zagreb), Domagoj Duvnjak (THW Kiel), Tin Lučin (Orlen Wisla Plock), Luka Cindrić (Dinamo București), Ivan Martinović (MT Melsungen), Luka Lovre Klarica (RK Zagreb), Mateo Maraš (MOL Tatabanya KC), Josip Šarac (Frisch auf Goppingen)

Line players: Veron Načinović (Montpellier HB), Marin Šipić (HC Kriens-Luzern), Nikola Grahovac (HBW Balingen-Weilstetten)

GERMANY

Goalkeepers: Andreas Wolff (KS Vive Kielce), David Späth (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Joel Birlehm (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) 

Wings: Lukas Mertens (SC Magdeburg), Rune Dahmke (THW Kiel), Christoph Steinert (HC Erlangen), Tim Hornke (SC Magdeburg)

Backs: Juri Knorr (Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Luca Witzke (SC DHfK Leipzig), Marian Michalczik (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Julian Köster (VfL Gummersbach), Marko Grgic (ThSV Eisenach), Renars Uscins (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Franz Semper (SC DHfK Leipzig)  

Line players: Johannes Golla (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Justus Fischer (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Jannik Kohlbacher (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) 

SLOVENIA

Goalkeepers: Klemen Ferlin (HC Erlangen), Urh Kastelic (TBV Lemgo), Urban Lesjak (RK Eurofarm Pelister)

Wings: Blaž Janc (Barça), Staš Jovičić Slatinek (RK Trimo Trebnje), Tilen Kodrin (VfL Gummersbach), Gasper Marguč (Telekom Veszprem HC), Domen Novak (HSG Wetzlar)

Backs: Dean Bombac (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Nejc Cehte (RK Eurofarm Pelister), Jure Dolenec (Limoges Handball), Nik Henigman (Saint-Raphaël Var Handball), Kristjan Horžen (VfL Gummersbach), Mitja Janc (RK Celje), Tadej Kljun (Balatonfuredi), Borut Mačkovšek (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Tilen Strmljan (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Aleks Vlah (Aallborg Handbold), Miha Zarabec (Orlen Wisla Plock)

Line players: Blaž Blagotinšek (SG Flensburg Handewitt), Matej Gaber (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged)

JAPAN

Goalkeepers: Motoki Sakai (Osaka Electric Osoi), Takumi Nakamura (Toyoda Gosei Blue Falcon), Daisuke Okamoto (Toyota Auto Body Brave Kings)

Wings: Hiroki Motoki (Zeekstar Tokyo), Naoki Sugioka (Toyota Auto Body Brave Kings), Goki Koshio (Toyoda Gosei Blue Falcon), Tomoya Sakurai (Toyota Auto Body Brave Kings)

Backs: Jin Watanabe (Toyota Auto Body Brave Kings), Tatsuki Yoshino (Toyota Auto Body Brave Kings), Shinnosuke Tokuda (Al Duhail), Kozaru Mizumachi (Toyoda Gosei Blue Falcon), Adam Yuki Baig (Zeekstar Tokyo), Kosuke Yasuhira (RK Vardar), Naoki Fujisaka (Nippon Sport Science University), Yuto Agarie (Zeekstar Tokyo)

Line players: Kenya Kasahara (Hörður), Hiroyasu Tamagawa (Zeekstar Tokyo), Sota Takano (Toyota Auto Body Brave Kings), Shuichi Yoshida (Dunkerque HGL)

HUNGARY

Goalkeepers: László Bartucz (MOL Tatabánya KC), Roland Mikler (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Kristóf Palasics (La Rioja Logrono)

Wings: Pedro Rodriguez Alvarez (MOL Tatabánya KC), Zsolt Krakovszki (HSA-NEKA), RODRIGUEZ ALVAREZ Pedro (MOL Tatabánya KC), Bence Imre (FTC-Green Collect), Bence Krakovszki (MOL Tatabánya KC), Bendegúz Bóka (Balatonfüredi KSE),

Backs: Gábor Ancsin (MOL Tatabánya KC), Zoran Ilic (HSV Hamburg), Gergő Fazekas (Orlen Wisla Plock), Egon Hanusz (TvB Stuttgart), Zoltan Szita (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Richárd Bodó (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Patrik Ligetvári (Telekom Veszprem HC), Máté Lékai (FTC-Green Collect)

Line players: Bence Bánhidi (OTP Bank-Pick Szeged), Miklós Rosta (Dinamo București, román), Adrián Sipos (MT Melsungen), Szabolcs Szöllősi (Dabas KC)

FRANCE

Goalkeepers: Samir Bellahcene (THW Kiel), Rémi Desbonnet (Montpellier HB), Vincent Gerard (Istres Provence HB)

Wings: Hugo Descat (Telekom Veszprem HC), Dylan Nahi (Industria Kielce), Benoit Kounkoud (Industria Kielce), Yanis Lenne (Montpellier HB), Valentin Porte (Montpeller HB)

Backs: Dika Mem (Barça),  Melvyn Richardson (Barça),  Timothey N’Guessan (Barça), Thibaud Briet (HBC Nantes) – Nikola Karabatic (Paris Saint Germain Handball), Élohim Prandi (Paris Saint Germain Handball), Kentin Mahé (Telekom Veszprem HC), Aymeric Minne (HBC Nantes), Nedim Remili (Telekom Veszprem HC)

Line players: Ludovic Fabregas (Telekom Veszprem HC), Luka Karabatic (Paris Saint Germain Handball), Karl Konan (Montpellier HB), Nicolas Tournat (Industria Kielce)

ARGENTINA

Goalkeepers: Leonel Maciel (Bidasoa Irun), Juan Bar (Atlético Valladolid)

Wings: Ignacio Pizarro (Cuenca), Federico Fernández (San Fernando), Santiago Baronetto (EÓN Alicante).

Backs: Nicolás Bonanno (BM Nava), James Parker (EÓN Alicante), Pablo Vainstein (Benidorm), Federico Pizarro (Cuenca), Guillermo Fischer (Villa de Aranda) y Andrés Moyano (Granollers), Diego Simonet (Montpellier HB), Nicolás Bono (Istres Provence), Pablo Simonet (Puente Genil), Pedro Martínez (Sporting Lisboa).

Line players: Gastón Mouriño (CSM Constanța), Lucas Moscariello (Benidorm).

NORWAY

Goalkeepers: Torbjørn Bergerud (Kolstad Handball), Kristian Sæverås (SC DHfK Leipzig), Sander Drage Heieren (TTH Holstebro)

Wings: Sebastian Barthold (Aalborg Handbold), Alexander Blonz (GOG), Kristian Bjørnsen (Aalborg Handbold), Magnus Søndenå (Kolstad Handball), Kevin Gulliksen (TTH Holstebro),

Backs: Simen Ulstad Lyse (Kolstad Handball), Sander Sagosen (Kolstad Handball), Sander A. Øverjordet (KIF Kolding), Christian O’Sullivan (SC Magdeburg), Tobias Grøndahl (Elverum Handball), William Otto Aar (Aarhus Handbold), Harald Reinkind (THW Kiel), Gabriel Ostad Setterblom (Kolstad Handball), Vetle Eck Aga (Kolstad Handball),

Line players: Magnus Gullerud (Kolstad Handball), Thomas Solstad (TSV Hannover Burgdorf), Petter Øverby (THW Kiel).