After months of careful planning and hard work by the Norwegian Handball Federation, the first games of the 6th European Beach Handball Championships throw off on Tuesday morning in Larvik.

Europe’s beach handball elite find themselves playing not on a beach but on three purpose built sand-courts in a harbour in Larvik.

Court 1 in particular is a superb show-court, the perfect venue for the European Championships, with temporary stands built up over the past week for 2,400 spectators.

Norway honours Breivik

Handball fans making the trip to the Larvik Beach arena on Tuesday – and there are sure to be thousands of them as Norwegians celebrate their national mid-summer holiday – are in for a real treat.

As part of the opening ceremony, beginning at 8.30 pm Norwegian time, a very special game of Beach Handball will be played.

Taking to the sand will be two Norwegian teams, which have conquered the world in the indoor game, the Olympic champions from Beijing in 2008 against the World Champions from 1999, playing a unique game of Beach Handball.

The match has been organised to honour Norway’s legendary national team coach, Marit Breivik, who retired earlier this year, and who will be a guest of honour at the opening ceremony.

Challenge for Euro hosts begins

The Beach Euro hosts open their championship campaign on Tuesday on Court 1 at 11.00 am as the Norwegian women take on Poland. The men’s side then meet Russia at 6.00 pm again on Court 1.

Watch the action live thanks to the live streaming service from host broadcaster, TV2, who will be showing selected matches from the main show court throughout the championship on their dedicated website.

Photo: Norwegian player shoots for goal against the Ukraine in their final friendly match ahead of the start of the Beach Euro 2009