A huge crowd descended on the Larvik Beach Handball Arena on Tuesday evening, 23 June, to celebrate the opening of the 6th European Beach Handball Championships.

Organisers were turning people away at the entrance to the temporary beach stadium, which has been built in one of Larvik’s old harbours, such was the interest in the event, and perhaps also in the special guest stars.

Former Norwegian trainer, Marit Breivik, who retired earlier this year, was guest of honour at the event, as were her girls, the stars of the 1999 World Championship winning team and the reigning Olympic champions, who played a special beach handball game - their opportunity to say ‘Takk’ to their legendary coach, who has taken Norway to title after title on the world stage.

The Norwegian Handball Federation and Organising Committee were represented by Brend Thomassen and Arne Modahl, welcomed the European Handball Federation, players, officials and spectators to the first Beach event in the very north of Europe.

The European Handball Federation was represented by the President of the Beach Handball Commission, Laszlo Sinka, from Hungary.

Play in the Beach Euro continues throughout Wednesday and the rest of the week. Finals will be held on Sunday 28 June in the magnificent Larvik Beach Arena in front of a potential crowd of 2400, live on TV2 in Norway and streamed live across the world.