05.07.2018, 04:08
Play beach handball on Olympic sand in London

NEWS: First European Beach Handball Tour event comes to Great Britain’s capital at the end of July

Play beach handball on Olympic sand in London

For the first time, the EHF’s European Beach Handball Tour (ebt) will stop in London.

Over the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July the capital of Great Britain will host the ‘London Beach Handball International Tournament’ (LBHIT) at Loxford Park, Redbridge – just a few kilometres from the London 2012 Olympic Games Park.

With a men’s and women’s adult and junior competition planned, over 20 teams and 200 athletes from across London, the UK, Europe and further afield, are expected to descend upon a purpose-built sand court in the park, created after the London 2012 Olympic Games and using sand from the beach volleyball tournament during the Games in the event held at the world-famous Horse Guards Parade.

Organiser of the London Beach Handball International Tournament and EHF Beach Handball Delegate Konrad Markwardt has been an EHF Beach Handball Delegate since 2016 and has worked and visited at some of the biggest beach handball events in Europe including the ebt Finals in Thessaloniki and the Beach EURO 2017 in Zagreb.

Ole Jorstad, EHF Beach Commission Chairman said: “As beach handball continues to enjoy unprecedented growth in popularity, we are very excited to add one of the world’s best-known cities – London – to the European Beach Handball Tour with the London Beach Handball International Tournament (LBHIT)

“Along with the first ebt destination in the UK – the British Beach Handball Championships in Poole on the south coast of England – we are looking forward to spreading the word and promoting our sport in UK to increase interest and ultimately participation.”

Konrad Markwardt said: "We are hoping that the great spirit of London 2012 Olympic Games is still in the area and that all the people who will be involved will have a chance to sample what a fantastic place London is.

“Our aim is to allow players and referees participating in the BBHC to have some competitive games ahead of the Championship in Poole - in this way we are trying to ensure that beach handball has a continuous growth on British sand.”

For further information on the London Beach Handball International Tournament visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LBHIT-London-Beach-Handball-International-Tournament-EBT-1809283029091955/ or email londonbeachhit@gmail.com.

For more information about the 2018 British Beach Handball Championships visit their website at http://www.britishbeachhandballchamps.com.

Photo: Marcio Menino

TEXT: Andrew McSteen / EHF / ts