Handball euphoria to take over Serbia

They are alongside highways, next to restaurants and bars, close to major buildings and even at petrol stations - with less than four weeks to go until the 2012 Women's EHF European Championship in Serbia from 4 to 16 December the host's handball federation has started an advertising campaign to boost the excitement ahead of the event.

Numerous billboards have been put up all of them featuring the mascot, the eagle, holding a red handball under its right wing. The slogan next to it reads: "Come and support."

And if the Men's EHF EURO 2012 in January, also hosted by Serbia, is anything to go by, the women's event is prone to be a success.

Ten months ago the matches drew crowds from all over Europe and the teams played in sold-out venues in Belgrade, Nis, Vrsac and Novi Sad.

For the women's event the organising committee once more relies on the tried and tested venues in those four cities.

Recent ticket sales figures showed that Macedonian fans will flock to the city of Nis where their team faces Sweden, France and Denmark in Group B.

Hosts Serbia will play all their games in Belgrade’s imposing Kombank Arena, where an excess of 20,000 fans turned up for the Men’s EHF EURO 2012 Main and Medal Rounds.

Their Preliminary Round Group A rivals are Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Norway – the Olympic, world and European champions whose electrifying squad and high-tempo game should also be a major crowd-puller.

Spain, Germany, Croatia and Hungary in Group C are based in Novi Sad’s SPENS Sports Centre, while Group D teams Russia, Montenegro, Romania and Iceland will play each other in Vrsac’s Millennium Hall.