Just one year to British Handball's first Olympic Games

EXACTLY one year from now, GB handball athletes will be making their final preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games!

While a home Olympics is a special event for everyone involved, for British Handball athletes and staff it is extra-special given that this is the first time Great Britain have been part of the Olympic handball competition.

As soon as London won the right to host the Olympic Games, British Handball officials sprung into action and began building teams that would be competitive at the Games and make Britain proud.

And now, with just 366 days remaining, British Handball remains on track to do just that.

“Everyone in our sport can be rightfully proud of what we have achieved in a short time; other nations have recognised the meteoric progress that the Great Britain teams have made on the court, and at home, handball has become a recognised school sport as an effect of the London Olympic Games,” said Paul Goodwin, British Handball’s CEO.

Goodwin went on to say “The next year is crucial to our future and we will continue to build on the strong foundations that we have laid, until handball is no longer Britain’s best kept secret”

And GB winger Mark Hawkins said: “One year to go is an enormous landmark, it really begins the final countdown.

“The atmosphere is already building, and as we come within a year to go it is only going to intensify as we get closer and really makes the games feel real.”

Lorraine Brown, British Handball's Performance Director said "The campaigns of both the GB men and GB women over the past 6 months have shown that both remain on track for their 2012 targets". "With one year to go, there is a focused effort being made by both squads, to leave no stone unturned."

A series of talent identification schemes and scouting missions across the world have brought together the best handball players Britain has to offer.

The athletes have all made many personal sacrifices to chase the Olympic dream – a dream which will become reality in one year’s time!