Scandinavia has come together, for the first time ever, to bid for the rights to host the Men’s EHF EURO.
European handball is currently faced with many exciting opportunities due to advances in technology. The right innovative approaches will allow European handball, and all its members, to capitalise on these opportunities to grow stronger.
To fully explore these opportunities, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, have joined forces to deliver a Men’s EHF EURO that has innovation at its core. By connecting to new ways of exchanging best practices, new ways of reaching untapped audiences and new ways of hosting more sustainable events, Scandinavia will ultimately connect European handball to a stronger future.
To prepare for the future, now is the time for European handball members to connect to new ways of exchanging information and best practices in order to become a stronger network that can grow and govern the sport across the continent.
Scandinavia will use technology to find new solutions to how all EHF members, both big and small, can level-up their online knowledge sharing. We are all stronger when we work together. A more connected network builds a stronger sport.
European handball and all its members must connect to new audiences in order to secure the continued growth of the sport. Technology allows us to connect with many untapped audiences.
Scandinavia will drive European handball’s connection with new and diverse audiences across the continent. We will connect to groups that could be future players or fans that have not previously been accessed and set the foundation for growth in European handball’s online engagement.
It is important for European handball and all its members to send a strong signal that we are committed to contributing to a better and more sustainable world.
Scandinavia will offer a first-class player and fan experience in a happy atmosphere. In addition, we will showcase innovative new approaches to sustainability. In a region that is easy to get to and get around in, we will connect European Handball to new sustainability standards and provide innovative solutions for future events.
Denmark, Norway and Sweden have come together, for the first time ever, to bid for the rights to host the Women’s European Handball Championships.
SScandinavia refers to the Northern European subregion of the three countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Scandinavia covers an area of 878,500 km² and is made up of the Scandinavian Peninsula and thousands of islands. The population in Scandinavia is approximately 21.5 million.
Scandinavia has one of the strongest economies in Europe with world-leading firms in advanced industry pharmaceuticals, agricultural sector, maritime shipping and renewable energy. Scandinavians enjoy a high standard of living and with its extensive government welfare measures, Scandinavia ranks as having the world’s highest level of income equality.
The citizens in the three Scandinavian countries share similar languages and have many common traditions. Scandinavians love sport. Scandinavian sport has achieved excellent results internationally in a variety of disciplines, not least in handball.
The Danish Handball Association, DHF, was founded in 1935, The Norwegian Handball Federation (NHF) was founded in 1937, and the Swedish Handball Federation (SHF) was founded in 1931. All three federations are dedicated members of the European handball family.
The total membership of in the three federations is 380,000, with each country having more than 100,000 members. When the big matches from events such as the European Championships are transmitted on Scandinavian television, approximately 40 per cent of the populations will tune in.
Denmark’s capital has a population of around 1.9 million; the Øresund Region as a whole has a total population of 3.7 million. Copenhagen is a metropolis boasting fantastic culture, dining experiences and high standard accommodation offerings.
The City of Copenhagen is one of Europe’s leading event cities. The city possesses the unique ability of knowing how to merge big events into its city culture. The EHF EURO will be organised in close collaboration with Wonderful Copenhagen (the official convention, event and tourism organisation for Copenhagen) and the Capital Region of Denmark.
Herning Municipality has approximately 90,000 inhabitants. The City of Herning has an impressive track record in terms of hosting international events, including the 2013 European Short Course Swimming Championships, the 2014 European Men's Handball Championship and the 2019 Men’s Handball World Championship. In Denmark, Herning is known as a textile town and for its trade fairs, conferences, culture and concerts.
Aarhus is situated beautifully on the coast of Jutland with easy access to beach, forests and the sea. It is Denmark’s second largest city and 1.5 million people are within an hour’s drive. The history of Aarhus extends back more than a thousand years to the Viking Age when the city was founded as an open trading station at the mouth of the local river. Aarhus is a lively city bustling with energy and innovation as well as a sense of history.
Major attractions in Aarhus include the old Latin Quarter with Aarhus Cathedral and Aarhus Canal, ARoS – the Aarhus Museum of Modern Art, the Old Town – an open-air old town museum, Aarhus City Hall and Tivoli – a big amusement park in the city.
Kolding is situated in the southern part of Jutland and with its 61,222 inhabitants, it is the 7th largest city in Denmark.
The history of Kolding can be traced back to 1231, when the city was first mentioned in writing in King Valdemar’s book of taxation. Back then, Kolding was placed in the outer borders of Denmark to duchies in the south, therefore the town was of strategic importance for the former kings and queens. In the streets of Kolding, you will find history everywhere, and you will also be drawn into the many cozy cafés and restaurants.
Stavanger is a city and municipality in Norway. It is the fourth largest city and the third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighbouring Sandnes), and the administrative center of Rogaland county.
Stavanger’s core is, to a large degree, its 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses that are protected and considered part of the city’s cultural heritage. This has caused the town center and inner city to retain a small-town character with an unusually high ratio of detached houses.
Welcome to a tasteful mix of history, sports, art, technology and green initiatives! Trondheim is served on a plate of rich traditions and forward-looking innovations. Trondheim is Norway’s 3rd largest city with just over 200,000 inhabitants - where the life of the big city flows through the heart of the small town.
Bergen is located in western Norway and is the country’s second largest city with 283,000 inhabitants, a World Heritage City often called the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway.
Bergen is an experienced organiser of international events and public events with over 500.000 attendants. The city enjoys excellent relations, procedures and cooperation between local and regional authorities, sports agencies/organisations, cultural partners and the business and tourism sector. The City Council decided on a new policy plan for sports 2019-2027 “Sports city Bergen – a step ahead”. One of the main goals is that Bergen is to be the best and most preferable host city in Norway for big national and international sports events.
Welcome to the capital of Norway with a little more than 1 million inhabitants. Oslo consists of a beautiful mixture of nature and urban city life.
The city is surrounded by the Marka Forest and the Oslo Fjord, both connected by a number of waterways. Oslo’s approach to conserving its natural areas and restoring its waterway network is just one of the many reasons why it won the European Green Capital Award for 2019.
Situated in the north east of Skåne, Kristianstad is the main centre of the region. The town combines the modern and the old and is situated in an area of great natural beauty. Kristianstad is also known for its cosy cafés, restaurants, and shops. Kristianstad Arena was built in 2010 to host the World Handball Championship. The local team, IFK Kristianstad, is one of Sweden’s best, feared by opponents for its fiercely partisan supporters.
Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden with a population of approximately 300,000. Malmö is part of Greater Copenhagen a metropolitan region centered around the Öresund strait and the two cities which lie on either side, Copenhagen and Malmö. The region is connected by the Öresund Bridge. 3.7 million people live in the Öresund region. Malmö is a town small enough for a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, yet big enough to boast a big city's cultural life and attractions.
The state-of-the-art multi-purpose Royal Arena in Copenhagen opened in February 2017. With a spectator capacity of up to 14,000 and a floor area of up to 35,000 square metres, this arena is of the highest international standard for music, cultural and sporting events. Royal Arena stands out as an architectural landmark with its iconic and Nordic architecture – offering the best possible standards for the championship. Royal Arena has previously hosted an international handball championship in 2019.
Jyske Bank Boxen at MCH has the capacity to hold 15,000 spectators for handball. With an impressive 28,000 square metres, it is designed to host a huge variety of events such as sports, concerts, shows and entertainment with world class service and VIP facilities. Jyske Bank Boxen has previously hosted international handball championships in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2020.
Ceres Arena was built in 2001 as part of the impressive sports complex, Aarhus Atletion. The arena has a spectator capacity of 5,000 and is within walking distance of the city centre. Since the opening the arena has had the opportunity to host many spectacular events, such as the European Women’s Handball Championships 2002 & 2010, the European Championship in table tennis in 2005, Team Gym European Championships 2012 and the European Men’s Handball Championships 2014.
Sydbank Arena is a multi-complex mainly for sports activities and events. It was built in 1996 and has since been extended. It now contains three sport arenas and the biggest venues has a capacity of 5,100 spectators for handball matches. The arena is the home venue for KIF Kolding in the men’s handball league and latest Sydbank Arena was one of the arenas for the Women’s EHF EURO in 2020.
DNB Arena officially opened on October 6th 2012. The arena is multifunctional and have housed concerts, sports events, cultural events etc. Both Clarion Hotel Energy and Scandic Forum is right next to the arena. There are two parking garages next to the arena. P-Siddis with 360 parking lots, and P-Forum with 289 parking lots. There is free parking every day, all day, in both of them.
Trondheim Spektrum (formerly Nidarøhallen) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Trondheim, Norway. It is located on the peninsula of Øya next to the Nidelven river. It is the home arena for women's handball team Byåsen HE. From summer 2017, Trondheim Spektrum underwent a significant renovation and extension. Construction work started in September 2017 and was completed in autumn 2019. The new venue has nine full-size handball courts and six children's mini courts. The main hall has 9,000 seats and concerts can be arranged with up to 12,000 spectators.
The old Telenor Arena at Fornebu will become handball's main venue when the reconstruction is finished. In addition, concerts and other events will be a large part of the content of the arena throughout the year. The redevelopment will make the new venue much more flexible and will increase the number of events considerably with a well-varied programme of sports and culture. The goal is a world-class arena with the combination of sports at all levels, culture, music and commercial activities such as trade fairs and conferences, which benefit many. With a capacity of 15,000 seats, Nye Fornebu will satisfy the international requirements for several championships and sporting events.
Bergen ByArena is part of a larger masterplan and new neighborhood that includes new housing, a police station, a hotel, and a cinema in addition to a sports and cultural venue. The ambition is to create a green neighbourhood which will deliver high quality buildings and urban spaces with new qualities to the city. The proposal introduces the arena as an urban driver, much like a modern-day colosseum, that is exciting on days when major events are being hosted, but also offers generous public spaces and activities throughout the year.
The entire masterplan aims at becoming an urban connector by stitching the area together with the adjacent districts and by delivering public plazas, vibrant streetscapes and pockets for city life supporting Bergen’s goals of sustainable urban development.
Malmö Arena is centrally located in the Öresund region, also known as Greater Copenhagen. Malmö Arena is located in the expansive district of Hyllie. Hyllie aims to be the most environmental friendly district in the Öresund region. At Hyllie Stationstorg, the heart of the green district lies Malmö Arena only 80 meters from the train station, from where you reach Malmö Centrum in 3 minutes, Copenhagen Airport in 12 minutes and Copenhagen city center in 25 minutes. Malmö Arena was opened in November 2008 and has a capacity for 15,000 spectators. Malmö Arena is a multi-arena and has hosted widely different events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, the Junior Hockey World Cup and the Handball World Championship.
Kristianstad Arena is a modern multi-arena with large areas and great flexibility for events in different sizes. With its geographical location, the arena is the obvious event venue for around 300,000 potential visitors.
Kristianstad Arena opened in October 2010. The arena is built next to the existing Kristianstad Sports Hall and Kristianstad Railway Museum. It is a multi-arena for sports, fairs and concerts. The audience capacity is about 5,200 at sports events with stands on four sides and about 5,000 people with stands on three sides and an audience on the floor.
Kristianstad Arena has an area of a total of 21,000 square meters for events of various sizes. The large hall can be varied from a large hall to the corresponding two full-size courts. For conferences and meetings, there are several rooms in different sizes. The arena has two restaurants, kiosks, bars and 6 VIP boxes with a total of 92 seats. In direct connection to the facility there are plenty of parking spaces.
The first major event that took place in the arena was the IHF Men’s World Championship 2011, where, among other things, the semi-final Denmark vs Spain was played. The audience record for sports is 5,221 in the playoff match in handball on 27 April 2018 between IFK Kristianstad and LUGI HF.