Olympic groups drawn in Rio de Janeiro

The route to a successful title defence at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games starts in tough fashion for women's champions Norway, while their male counterparts, France, have been drawn to a - on paper - slightly easier group when the draw for the Olmypic handball tournament took place in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.

Norway, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champions as well as current world and EHF EURO champions, face EHF EURO 2014 silver medallists Spain, EHF EURO 2012 winners Montenegro, World Championship 2015 bronze medallists Romania, 2013 world champions Brazil and Angola in Group A.

The French men's team has been drawn to the men's Group A alongside EHF EURO 2016 bronze medallists Croatia, EHF EURO 2012 winners Denmark, World Championship 2015 silver medallists Qatar as well as Argentina and Tunisia.

In the women's Group B World Championship 2015 silver medallists Netherlands play against EHF EURO 2014 bronze medallists Sweden as well as Russia, France, Korea and Argentina.

Men's EHF EURO 2016 champions Germany were drawn to Group B together with Egypt, Sweden, Slovenia, Poland and Brazil.

The first four teams of each group qualify for the quarter-finals. The handball tournament at the Games starts on 6 August.