09.04.2013, 09:47
Poland is ready for the young handball talents

Hosting the Women's 17 EHF EURO 2013 is the first mosaic stone for the momentum the Polish Handball Federation wants to build towards the Men's EHF EURO 2016

Poland is ready for the young handball talents

It is less than five months to go until the Women's 17 EHF EURO 2013 throws off in Poland, but the two hosting cities, Gdańsk and Gdynia, are already prepared to welcome the young talents from the 16 participating nations.

The final tournament will be held in two arenas, both situated close to the mouth of the Vistula River, from 15 to 25 August.

The first arena is the 'Sports and Entertainment Gdynia', which opened in December 2008, the second venue is the 'Jędrzej Śniadecki Academy of Physical Education and Sport' in Gdańsk.

"We’ve a lot of the experience to organise competitions in these arenas because the women's as well as the men's national team have played in Gdynia.

"Additionally, it’s the hall where Vistal Łaczpol Gdynia, the Polish women's national champion is playing their matches.

"The arena in Gdansk is another good choice for us, because our men's national junior handball team became European there in 2002," said Marek Góralczyk, Secretary General of the Polish Handball Federation.

"We want to show the players, the coaches and the fans from Europe these two wonderful city," he added.

"One important advantage is the proximity to the Baltic Sea, which gives the area its specific climate. It also gives the possibility to swim and relax after hard and tough matches."

Poland as the hosting nation did not have to go through the qualification process.

Ahead of the tournament the team will prepare in Dzierżoniów for its matches.

"I had a very good couple of days in Dzierżoniów and I’m very satisfied with what I saw," women's senior national team coach Kim Rasmussen was quoted on the official website for the Women’s 17 EHF Euro.

"We want to obtain a good result during this tournament. Our team is based on young athletes who are students of the Athletic School in Gliwice.

"I hope that the team will be well prepared to Women's 17 EHF EURO," added Góralczyk.

Poland will also host Men's 18 EHF European Championship in 2014.

Both events will be a test for the Men’s EHF EURO 2016 which will be also organised by Polish Handball Federation.

"We don't treat the Women's 17 EHF EURO as test, we want to build the organisational structure which we could use and improve until the next tournament, which we will host, which is the Men's 18 EHF European Championship in 2014," said Góralczyk.

"And after that our the next aim is the Men’s EHF EURO 2016.

"We understand that the championship for the senior teams isn't the same like for junior's, but a large part of the procedures and rules are identical.

"The Polish Handball Federation as well as the European Handball Federation are just starting their partnership .

"I assume that we will be cooperating with the same people, so it is a great occasion to meet and see how we operate."

TEXT: Maciej Firlej / ts