It was not only on the handball court where Scandinavian countries shined, but also in their role as hosts of the 26th IHF Women's World Championship in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The first handball World Championship in history hosted by three countries.

As the world's best female handball players displayed exceptional performances on the court, the organizers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a seamless execution of the championship.

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In total 344.000 spectators attended the 112 matches across the six arenas, which is the highest number of spectators ever for an IHF Women’s World Championship according to IHF.

With the final game whistled to a close, Morten Stig Christensen, president of the Danish Handball Association, expresses his great satisfaction:

"We are very proud of the magnificent support from spectators and fans. This championship is the result of over two years of intense planning in Scandinavia and we owe a huge thank you to everyone, from the IHF to our dedicated staff, our partners, host cities, arenas, Sport Event Denmark, and last but not least, the fantastic volunteers who made it all possible.”

The three Scandinavian hosts had set the bar high with the slogan #aimtoexcite. Among other things, the pace was increased in fan zones across the three Nordic countries, and a special effort was made to explore how an international championship can be conducted in a responsible manner with everything from waste sorting to an electric vehicle fleet.

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"This championship has not only showcased top-class handball but also our commitment to sustainable event management. We're proud to have been part of a tournament that prioritizes both athletic excellence and environmental responsibility," remarked the president of the Norwegian Handball Federation, Kåre Geir Lio.

2,500 volunteers made an indispensable effort to lift such a large event as the IHF Women’s World Championship. And together with the record-breaking crowd, they created a great promotion of handball for millions of TV-viewers all over the world.

"Seeing such enthusiastic crowds in the stands and experiencing the unity and excitement across all participating countries has been truly heartwarming. This event has further strengthened the handball community and our shared Scandinavian values," stated the president of the Swedish Handball Federation, Fredrik Rapp.

After the exciting final, where France beat Norway to become World Champions, the brand-new trophy of the championship was presented. Donated to the International Handball Federation by the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish Handball Federations as a beautiful legacy from the 26th IHF Women’s World Championship.

#aimtoexcite

Upcoming international handball championships with Nordic hosting:

The IHF World Men's Handball Championship, January 2025
Denmark, Norway, Croatia

Men’s EHF Euro, January 2026
Denmark, Norway, Sweden

Women’s EHF Euro, December 2028
Denmark, Norway, Sweden