2008/2009 EHF Season Opener Event

2008/2009 EHF Season Opener Event

The European Handball Federation staged an EHF Season Opener Event on Saturday 20 September 2008 in Veszprem, Hungary. The 2008 UNIQA EHF Men’s Champions trophy provided itself to be an optimum launching pad for the 2008/2009 season, which was presented to the audience in the specially erected event marquee.

The European Handball Federation was joined by key EHF Champions League partners – Interwetten and UNIQA, to present the audience with key facts, figures and information on the fast-approaching new season. With the countdown already on until the first EHF Champions League throw-off, preparations are in full swing.

High-calibre line-up for the two-day event

Over 100 participants were welcomed to the press conference, which was sectioned into three parts. Commencing with the weekend event itself, the UNIQA EHF Champions Trophy, Jean Brihault, EHF Vice-president, opened the conference with information on the event, which has been held for the 13th time this year. He then gave the floor. He stressed the high-calibre of the teams – with the titleholder and runner-up of the 2007/2008 EHF Champions League, plus the three winners of last season’s European Cup - the line-up is truly in a class of its own!

Brihault then gave the floor to the representatives from UNIQA Biztosító Zrt., the event’s presenting sponsor and EHF Marketing partner for Hungary, Pal Ertl. He stressed UNIQA’s commitment to European handball and to the EHF Champions League. He also announced UNIQA Hungary’s strong relationship with EHF Marketing and the host club, MKB Veszprem – the company is a partner of both. Ertl stressed; “Sport runs through the veins of the Hungarian people. We are very passionate about sport and handball in particular, it has deep running traditions as we will see over the course of the two day event. We are proud to put our name to this event.” 

The 2008/2009 season launched

The participants were given important information on the forthcoming season, with Michael Wiederer, EHF Secretary General, expecting to see a season of “superlatives”. While the new playing schedule, which will include quarter-final k.o matches following the main round, where the clubs have taken the points with them from the group phase, will have the same number of matches, Wiederer promises; “more high-tension, high-profile matches, which are a win-win situation for handball, both in terms of the sporting superiority, the media interest and spectacle for the fans.”

2008/2009 season brings with it new initiatives

It was an honour for the EHF to announce an exciting new partnership. EHF Marketing has signed a two-year partnership deal with online betting company, Interwetten. The partnership will bring with it exciting new initiatives, including a new streaming platform at ehfTV.com, which promises to bring EHF handball to a wider audience, with a promised 80 top Men’s and Women’s EHF Champions League matches live and all matches on demand, plus extra highlights. The EHF partner for club competitions will help power the EHF Club competitions forward, primarily focusing on the EHF Champions League in the initial stage of the partnership. Interwetten CEO,Thomas Daubek, spoke of his commitment and excitement about this new venture, “We believe in the further success of the EHF Champions League and its sister competitions and are proud to have our name connected to the products The key principles of the sport of handball – dynamics, excitement, passion and strength are common to those of the Interwetten philosophy, which is why the partnership will surely be deep-rooted and fruitful.”

Conclusion

Following the press conference, the event marquee opened to the public. Throughout the two-day event, the handball public of Veszprem will have the opportunity to experience the EHF Champions League feeling and learn more about the competition and the 2008/2009 season.