European Beach Handball Championship 2009, Larvik
On 23-28 June, the Norwegian city of Larvik will host the sixth edition of the European Beach Handball Championship. First, here are few informations about Norway and Larvik.
The Kingdom of Norway is one of the most developed and richest countries in the world. Norway is situated on the very north of Europe. The capital is Oslo. Norway covers 385,199 km2 and has a population of 4,795,508. There are two official languages: Norwegian and Lappish. Money currency is norway kroner, Norwegian kroner (NOK). For 100 kroner you get 12.5 €. Norway has one of the most developed coastlines in the world. The number of islands is around 50000.
The city and muncipality of Larvik are located 105 kilometers south-west of Oslo. The whole municipality covers an area of 500 km2 and has 41,211 inhabitants, while the town of Larvik has 23,100 inhabitants. Larvik economy relies on agriculture, trade and light industry. In the world of handball Larvik is best known for a very successful women’s Handball club. Larvik Handballklubb was founded in 1990 as a merger of the handball departments in the two clubs Larvik Turn and Halsen. Since then, girls from Larvik have reached the Women’s EHF Champions League semi finals in 2002 and 2004, Women’s EHF Cup final in 1996. and have won Women’s EHF Cup Winners’ Cup in 2005 and 2008.
And now, finally, something about the European Championship. On 12-13 January 2009 in the EHF Headquarters, Vienna the 2nd Workshop took place. The representative of the Norwegian Organising Committee, Gunnar Nybö, has arrived in Vienna for the workshop. These two days was an opportunity to discuss important organisational details, such as event area set-up, playing courts, promotion concepts and media questions.
As I already mentioned, championship will be held from 23 to 28 June this year. This event also serves as the qualification for the 2010 World Beach Handball Championships – leaving a tremendous amount to play for, not only the golden championship plate. Countries that will compete in men’s and women’s category are: Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
Arena sketch Euro Beach 2009 in Larvik, Norway