Brihault: We’ve created a major international event

Another showdown of women’s handball has come to a close in Budapest, with the pinnacle of the season, the MVM EHF FINAL4, again drawing great attention from the fans and the media alike and providing excellent visibility for the sport.

On the eve of the final, ehfcl.com spoke with the European Handball Federation President Jean Brihault.

"The women’s game is obviously in good health and, despite the fact that we’re missing a Hungarian team from this year’s event, we’ve attracted good crowds for the final matches and there has been a great atmosphere in the arena,” said Brihault.

"Naturally there was an expectation that we would maintain the high level we achieved in the first event in 2014 here in the Papp Laszlo Sportarena and I feel we have more than achieved this.

"It also goes without saying that we have once again enjoyed a very warm welcome here in Hungary,” said Brihault.

The cooperation between the EHF and the Hungarian Handball Federation has been outstanding according to the EHF President, after three EHF events – the 2014 and 2015 MVM EHF FINAL4 as well as the Women's EHF EURO, in total took place in the Papp Laszlo Sportarena.

"Of course it is clear that the positive cooperation between the Hungarian Handball Federation on the one hand, and the EHF and EHF Marketing on the other has helped to ensure that all aspects of the event ran even more smoothly,” said Brihault.

"However, we need to continue to work with our media partners to bring the game to even more people and new audiences,” says Brihault underlining the importance of progress within the European Handball Federation’s events and planning.

"From the feedback I have had, in particular from my visit to the General Assembly of the Women Forum Club Handball taking place on the fringes of the event, the clubs are clearly enthusiastic about the format.

"By bringing together the top teams to play over two days here in Budapest we’ve created a major international event; this clearly shows what we can achieve and in turn creates new ideas and innovative concepts,” concluded Brihault.