The Iberian Bid jumps onto the court to play under the same anthem, the same idea of handball, the same idea of what it means to organize the biggest handball event in our continent. We are mixing the experience and know-how of Spanish Handball with the emerging and enthusiastic Portuguese Handball in order to lead a unique bid, the Iberian Bid, the bid of southern Europe that aspires to conquer the hearts of all those countries that opt to make the leap to the first continental stage.
Spain and Portugal, neighbors and brothers, have already joined forces to organize the Football World Championship in 2030, and we would like to continue this joint work between the two countries to concentrate the best handball in the Iberian Peninsula in 2028.
The Royal Spanish Handball Federation and the Portuguese Handball Federation lead the Iberian Bid.
Spain and Portugal share the same geographical situation, the Iberian Peninsula, located in southwestern Europe. Strategically, it has an immeasurable value because it represents the perfect intersection between Europe, Africa and America, in addition to its immediate access to the Mediterranean Sea.
58 million people live in the Iberian Peninsula, and almost 7 million of those residents are born on other parts of the planet.
The Iberian Peninsula is, above all, a melting pot of cultures, resulting of the important political and cultural role that it has played throughout the history of mankind. In other words, Spain and Portugal gather a total of 65 sites declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
The main goal now is to invest, invest in the future, bring generations of new players, fans and media to be interested in men’s handball, interested in our beautiful and educational sport, interested in physical activity and health. Handball is possibly the best sport in terms of team sport and balanced physical motivation.
The Iberian Bid team proposes to host the 18th EHF Men's European Championship between Thursday, the 13th of January and Sunday, 30th of January. The Iberian Bid proposes five different venues for the Preliminary Round, concentrating the Main Round and the Final Weekend in Lisbon and Madrid, the capital cities of both countries.
Below is a scheme proposal of the match schedule for the Event:
As the capital city of Spain, Madrid is the seat of the Spanish Government and its Ministries, the Spanish Parliament (Congress and Senate), the Supreme and Constitutional Court, as well as the official residence of the King and Queen of Spain and the Prime Minister.
It is famous for its rich collections of European art, with art treasures of Goya, Velázquez, and other Spanish masters in the Prado Museum.
It is a city full of places to visit, plans to make, experiences to live, and history to know.
You have plans such as strolling around the ‘Plaza Mayor’, visiting the Royal Palace, walking along the ‘Gran Vía’, a stop at the Cibeles Palace, a tour of the National Library, a stroll through the Retiro Park, or shopping at the ‘Rastro’ (flea market).
Eat a good plate of cocido (a traditional stew). If you need to recharge your batteries to continue your visit in Madrid, there is nothing better than this typical dish.
Visit some of the hundreds of churches, basilicas, and cathedrals in the city. Our favorite? The Almudena Cathedral, in front of the Royal Palace. In terms of transportation, Madrid's Metro network is among the top ten in the world, both in size and number of stations. On the other hand, in regard of terminals, Barajas Airport is the largest in the world.
Lisbon, is the capital city of Portugal and the centre of the Lisbon metropolitan area. Located in western Portugal, it is the westernmost capital city in continental.
Europe and serves as the country’s chief port, largest city, and commercial, political, and tourist centre. The general outlines of the city remain as they have for hundreds of years. Lisbon is still a city of balconies and spectacular views. Some of the most striking of the latter can be seen from the miradouros, the terraces maintained by the municipality on seven of its hillsides.For centuries Lisboetas have discussed the symptoms of an affliction they believe to be endemic in their city: saudade (“melancholy”), a state of anxiety tempered by fatalism that is said to be reflected in fado (“fate”), the melodic but deeply emotional folk songs that can still be heard in specific restaurants, mainly in the historic quarters of 'Alfama' and 'Bairro Alto'.
The city lies on the north bank of the Tagus River estuary, about 13 km from the river’s entrance into the Atlantic Ocean. It is spanned, on the west side of the city, by the 25th of April Bridge. Just east of the bridge, the Tagus suddenly broadens into a bay 11 km wide called the 'Mar de Palha' because of the way that it shimmers in the sun. Scenically spectacular, this hillcradled bay of burnished water lies on a strategic sea route and serves as a busy port, handling much of the trade between Portugal and Spain.
Valencia, capital city of the Valencian Community, is the third most populated city and metropolitan area in Spain. Its historic center is one of the largest in Spain and thanks to its historical and monumental heritage and its different scenic and cultural spaces, it has become one of the cities with the greatest influx of national and international tourism in the country.
Valencia is a city with countless festivals and traditions, among which we can highlight the Falles, which were declared a festival of international touristic interest on January 25, 1965. Valencian gastronomy has many things to boast about and you can find them all in the Central Market, the largest fresh produce market in Europe.
Málaga is located in Andalusia, in the south of the country. It is the sixth most populated city in Spain. It is one of the most beautiful and interesting cities of the ‘Costa del Sol’ and it offers the possibility of making various plans such as walking up the Alcazaba or visit the Gibralfaro Castle.
The city has a varied gastronomic offer and its main shopping street has always people strolling, visiting the small fashion boutiques, stores, and bars.
Málaga is one of the cities with most museums in Spain and one of them is entirely dedicated to Pablo Picasso, one of the most brilliant artists of modern history, who was born in Málaga. The Pompidou Center or the Carmen Thyssen Museum have also their place in this city.
Ourense is a Spanish city and municipality located in the southeast of Galicia, being the third municipality of Galicia with the most amount of population, and the most populated within the interior of Galicia. It is considered the Thermal Capital of Galicia. There are eight bridges that cross the Miño river, which in Roman times was considered a gold mine.
The city concentrates the largest commercial and leisure offer in the province, as well as administrative (Provincial Council, Provincial Court, Government Subdelegation), educational (University of Vigo) and health (Hospital Complex of Orense) services of reference.
Ourense has many cloudy and rainy days. On the other hand, its summers are very hot, due to its location in a valley.
The WiZink Center is consolidated as the multipurpose area with most versatility in Spain. This hall is able to host large-scale concerts and major Sporting events, as well as small-format events that accommodate new talents and shows. In terms of hosting events, it is the venue of reference both in Madrid and throughout the country, reaching a capacity of almost 17,500 spectators.
The biggest event room in the country, located in the heart of 'Parque das Naçoes' and ten minutes away from the Lisbon International Airport. This multipurpose facility holds a set of rooms prepared to host the most diverse events. Its location has the advantage of serving not only the population of the biggest Portuguese metropolitan area but also the country as a whole, due to its proximity to the Lisbon Orient Station (where the main means of transport connect) and to the main intersections
Municipal indoor sports facility with a capacity of 9.000 spectators. It holds mostly football and basketball events, although it also has rooms for weightlifting, weight training and judo, among others.
It is defined as one of the most emblematic facilities of the city, where numerous high-level sporting events are held throughout the year. However, this hall not only hosts sporting events, but also musical events and congresses.
Independent sports facility of the Provincial Deputation of Ourense, located a few kilometers away from the city centre. It usually hosts international sports events, as well as cultural and creative shows.