IHF mourns loss of Austria’s Hofbauer

It is with great sadness that the IHF has learnt of the passing of Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) President Gerhard Hofbauer at the age of 82.

Hofbauer was the longest-serving ÖHB president and oversaw one of the most successful periods in its modern handball history. 

The women’s national team took bronze medals at both the 1996 European Championship and 1999 IHF World Championship, along with a fifth-place finish at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, while the men’s team dazzled on home soil at the 2010 European Championship where they finished in 9th place and then went one better at the 2020 edition, their best-ever rank.

In addition to his national team activities, Hofbauer was very active in handball at the club and regional levels, especially with the FIVERS team, based in Vienna. He also worked with the Federal Sports Council, Austrian Sports Organisation and Austria's Olympic Committee.

On behalf of the entire IHF handball family, Dr Moustafa would like to express his deepest condolences to the family and friends of President Hofbauer and all of those who worked alongside him.

PHOTO: ÖHB