Seven nations bid to host EHF EURO events in 2018 and 2020
Seven nations bid to host EHF EURO events in 2018 and 2020
After the bidding process for the EHF EURO events in 2018 and 2020 opened in early June, seven nations have expressed their interest in hosting the European Championships by the end of the official deadline on 4 September 2013.
Norway have expressed their interest for all four EHF EURO events in question, the Men’s and the Women’s EHF EURO in 2018 as well as for both events in 2020. Norway were hosts of the 2008 Men’s EHF EURO and the co-hosts together with Denmark of the 2010 Women’s EHF EURO.
Sweden, hosts of the men’s event in 2002 and the women’s event in 2006, showed interested in hosting the 2018 Men’s EHF EURO and the 2020 Men’s EHF EURO.
After being awarded the 2014 Women’s EHF EURO as co-hosts together with Hungary, Croatia would also like to present themselves as hosts of the 2018 Men’s final tournament.
France and Ukraine have entered the race for the 2018 Women’s EHF EURO – both countries have never staged the EHF’s flagship event before.
Austria, after hosting the men’s event in 2010, have expressed their interest for the 2020 Men’s EHF EURO, and Denmark, hosts of the upcoming 2014 Men’s EHF EURO in January, have expressed their interest for the 2020 Women’s EHF EURO.*
The overview of all bidding nations reads as follows:
Men’s EHF EURO 2018: Croatia, Norway, Sweden
Women’s EHF EURO 2018: France, Norway, Ukraine
Men’s EHF EURO 2020: Austria, Norway, Sweden
Women’s EHF EURO 2020: Norway, Denmark*
“We are delighted by the amount of expressions of interest we received from our member federations,” said EHF President Jean Brihault.
“All nations that are showing an interest have a strong handball background. They have huge experience in hosting major sporting events and I am confident all of them would be the perfect hosts for the EHF’s flagship national team event.”
Expressing an interest was the first step in the bidding process. Formal applications have to be handed to the EHF by 10 December 2013. The EHF Executive Committee will then confirm all applicants at its meeting on 13/14 December 2013.
A final decision on the hosts will be made by the Ordinary EHF Congress set to take place in Dublin, Ireland on 19/20 September 2014.
*This paragraph has been corrected. Previously it had been reported that Denmark had expressed their interest in hosting the 2020 Men's EHF EURO. Instead Denmark would like to host the 2020 Women's EHF EURO [12 September 2013, 12:10 hrs]
