19.01.2018, 02:50
VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018 trophy unveiled

NEWS REPORT: With the VELUX EHF FINAL4 just over four months away, the most coveted trophy in club handball already arrived in Germany on Friday for its official presentation

VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018 trophy unveiled

After 10 rounds in the VELUX EHF Champions League 2017/18, the dream to make it all the way to Cologne is still alive for most participating teams.

However, only four of them will actually come through the Last 16 and the quarter-finals to appear at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in the LANXESS arena on 26-27 May.

The trophy they all want to lift has already arrived in the German host city.

On Friday, the golden arm-shaped sculpture was unveiled during the traditional ‘Cologne Sport Year’ presentation under this year’s theme: ‘Our sport – as diverse as our city.’

The presentation was attended by Horst Meyer, the deputy sports department director of the city of Cologne; Dr. Agnes Klein, the councillor for education, youth and sports of the city of Cologne; Stefan Löcher, Managing Director LANXESS arena; and local sport city mascot TropS.

The EHF and EHF Marketing GmbH used the opportunity to express their praise for Cologne, which is going into its ninth straight season staging the apotheosis of Europe’s premier club competition.

“Among handball fans, Cologne has already established itself as host of the finals tournament of the VELUX EHF Champions League,” said David Szlezak, Managing Director of EHF Marketing GmbH, about the city in Western Germany.

The VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018 starts with an Opening Party on Friday, 25 May, followed by two days of intense handball action, watched by nearly 40,000 fans in total at the venue and millions on their TV screens in 80 territories around the world.

“Many fans travel to the event from all of Europe and they create a great atmosphere not just in the LANXESS arena but also in the city,” Szlezak said. “It demonstrates the international added value of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and the not to be underestimated value creation for the city of Cologne.”

TEXT: EHF / ew