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!

GB's Hawkins and Larsson on the Move

GREAT Britain winger Mark Hawkins and right back Steven Larsson have both signed for new clubs as their development into World-class handball players continues.

Hawkins, 25 and from Horsham in Sussex, is moving to Iceland to play for UMF Afturelding in the country’s top league. The move comes a year ahead of the London Olympics and follows three years playing for HK Aarhus Nord in Denmark.

And Larsson, who lives in Norway but has family in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, has been snapped up by Norwegian professional club Drammen HK.

Several international stars like Frode Hagen, Glenn Solberg and Kristian Kjelling have played at Drammen, and last year they finished second in the top Norwegian league.

“Last year they were second in the league, so this year we are hoping to be in the top three again,” said 30-year-old Larsson, pictured right. “But a lot of professional players have come back to the Norwegian League this year so it’s going to be a tough season.

“Hopefully we will have many good games, and we have also qualified for the European Cup so it will be a good build up for me towards London 2012.”

Meanwhile Hawkins, pictured left, said: “It's a fantastic opportunity to play in the top league of such a strong country. They develop so many good players physically and technically. It will be a great place to showcase myself.

“To be involved in a professional environment and playing for a team used to developing players will improve my game before next summer.”

Sporting Grants Available from Sportscover

THE personal sponsor of GB handball athlete Nina Heglund, Sportscover are offering the wider sporting community support through their innovative Sportscover Sponsorship Fund.

Grants of $750 are available to successful applicants from around the world in a host of sports, and 20 such grants are being made in 2011.

“Sportscover's desire to assist community sports led to the creation of the Sportscover Sponsorship Fund (SSF) as an avenue to sponsor a wide variety of amateur sports men and women, striving to achieve sporting greatness across a broad cross-section of sports.

“Over the last few years, the SSF has donated over $70,000 in $1000 grants to grass-roots sporting clubs and associations,” said Martin Kelly, Sportscover’s Marketing Manager.

Sportscover is the insurer of British Handball and Scottish Handball, but has links to many different sports across the world.

For details of the scheme, go to http://www.sportscover.com/supporting-sport.asp?id=2154

GB Women in Euro 2012 - More Details Released!

MORE details of Great Britain women’s 2012 European Championship campaign have been released.

Following their two-leg victory over Finland in a pre-qualifiers earlier this year, GB were drawn with Russia, Poland and Montenegro in the group stages, with home and away legs due to be played.

The first home game will be on October 22 against Russia at Crystal Palace, while the home game against Poland will be on March 21 2012, although a venue is yet to be announced.

And finally, the home game against Montenegro will also be at Crystal Palace on May 30.

The away dates have yet to be finalised, but GB will play in Montenegro on October 19/20, Poland on March 24/25 and Russia on June 2/3.

More details later.

GB Men World Championship Draw

GREAT Britain Men will take on Israel and Austria in the 2013 World Championships qualification phase, after the draw was made in the Czech Republic on Sunday afternoon.

GB will play each of their opponents home and away in November and January, with the exact dates and venues yet to be decided.

The winner of the group after the qualification matches will then go through to the play-off stage of the Championships, with the finals taking place in Spain in January 2013.

GB Goalkeepers Sign for Top Clubs

GREAT Britain goalkeepers Jesper Parker and Nicholas Satchwell are both celebrating after penning new deals with top clubs this month.

Parker (pictured left) has signed for Swedish champions Sävehof and has Champions League handball to look forward to next season, while Satchwell is moving to Swiss side RTV 1879 Basel, where he will be playing alongside many players with top international experience.

On his move, Parker said: “Sävehof are the current Swedish champions and that will give me daily contact with some of the best players in the Swedish league.

“Since we are soon moving into the last 12 months of preparation for the Olympic Games all players are looking to maximise the use of this short time, and I couldn't have dreamt of a better handball environment.

“Sävehof are aiming to defend their Swedish championship win of last season and do well in this season's Champions League run. I will have fantastic competition on the goalkeeper position in Sävehof but I will work hard to hold a competitive performance level.”

And Satchwell (right), who has become a strong part of the GB Men’s team in the short time he has been involved, said: “The level in the Swiss League is high with several players with experience internationally and from top-leagues such as the Bundesliga.

“The level of competition will be a step up for me. The club is ambitious and aim to reach the play-off stages of the Swiss league.

"The other goalkeeper at Basel is Swiss national team keeper Pascal Stauber who has a lot of international experience, so I hope I will be able to learn a lot from him.”