EHF Congress News
EHF Congress News
The European Handball Federation is currently busy preparing for the forthcoming EHF Congress. This will be the 9th EHF Ordinary Congress and is scheduled to take place in Vienna, on 26 and 27 September 2008.
The Electoral Congresses of the EHF follow a four-year rhythm. The agenda of the Vienna Congress will contain reports from the EHF Bodies, elections to all positions (refer to EHF NEWS 101 for electoral listings), the tabling of motions and awarding of events.
In the course of the Gothenburg Executive Committee meeting, the Committee confirmed the tabling of a motion on the EHF EURO events, or rather in this case a package relating directly to the European Handball Championships. This motion has been drawn-up based on different sources of consultation, information and feedback. These include the discussions and results of the 2008 Lillehammer Congress (Extraordinary Congress), the findings of a Working Group on EURO Finances, which was set-up following the Lillehammer Congress, the EHF Competitions Conference of April 2008, consultation and talks with federations, leagues and clubs, organisers of events and of course key media partners.
The motion is essentially a 5-pronged package, dealing with alignments to scheduling, finances and the awarding of events, the establishment of a EURO Advisory Delegation and the initiation of an evaluation process of the new qualification.
Scheduling
Following in depth research and discussion with the parties mentioned above, the EHF will table a motion to reschedule the Men’s EHF European Handball Championship (EHF EURO) to take place in the September of the odd years; other proposals by the stakeholders talk of a May/June period. This move allows leagues to be played in Europe without any break and is seen as an initial start to discussions concerning timetabling congestion on the European continent.
This will be introduced as of 2011 (replacing the 2012 events) and continuing in 2013, 2015 etc. The EHF EURO events have already been extended to included additional rest days for the athletes (introduction 2010).
Finances
A further tier of the package relates to the financial results of the EHF EURO events effecting both men’s and women’s events. This matter has been dealt with by the installed Working Group and the EHF directly. As of 2012 (2011), the EHF proposes a new utilisation system of returns constituting percentage distribution for the first time.
The returns will be split as follows:
10% participants in qualification
20% participants in final round of EHF EURO
10% clubs of national team players
20% organiser
20% handball development – younger age category events, challenge trophies etc
20% EHF for ordinary EHF business activities
EURO Delegation
A type of advisory body will be deployed by the EHF Executive Committee – to be known as the EURO Delegation – to deal with specific EURO event matters and issues, acting as a consultant and communication channel for the EHF.
Awarding of Events
The 2012 (or 2011) Men’s and 2012 Women’s European Championships will be awarded by the Congress. As mentioned above, it is proposed to reposition the men’s event to September 2011. A further proposal, as of 2013, is that the events be awarded by the EHF Executive Committee. Due to the intricate nature and complexity of high-profile sporting events, it is essential that all factors are focused on closely in awarding any large event. This is essential to ensure the continued placement and growth on the market.
Evaluation Procedure
As known, a new qualification system of home and away matches in groups came into effect for the 2010 Men’s European Championship. The qualification will commence in October 2008 and continue until June 2009. An analysis and evaluation process will be initiated to inspect the success of the system and the possible necessity for further alignments.
Conclusion
The EHF is continually analysing its event compendium and the status of handball on the European continent. Tor Lian, EHF Presidents, confirms this, “It is the obligation of the EHF, as European governing body for handball, to continually assess its events and make realignments in line with market trends and sporting demands where necessary. There has been a long communication process with all our key partners to arrive at this motion and we are confident that this is in the interest of the further placement of top level handball on the market and the sport of handball and its development in general.”
This information serves as first information to the motions which will be tabled and voted upon on 27 September 2008. More information on the Congress will follow and the EHF News Service will be reporting directly from the Congress.
