ZitatNew format for Beijing 2008: All need to qualify
The International Handball Federation’s Council passed a new qualifying format for future Olympic handball tournaments. According to the second highest IHF body, the system, that should be effective in view of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is fairer and by far more attractiveWhen elaborating future qualifying criteria the World Association has been guided by the idea that Olympic Games and relating qualifying rounds are self-contained competitions, which have to be detached from World Championships. Except for the host and the reigning World Champion, all future Olympic participants have to gain qualification through special competitions.
In a first step, the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and Pan-America establish – as hitherto - one participant each for the men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments under the overall control of the IHF.
The remaining places are assigned with help of attractive four-nation tournaments in a second step. 16 women’s and 24 men’s teams in total from all continents are entitled to participate in these competitions. The tournament winners book their passage to the Olympic Games.
In order to have the currently top teams play in Beijing and in future Olympic tournaments, qualifying rounds will be carried out just prior to the Games themselves. The continental rounds have to be complete by December (women) or January (men) prior to the Olympics. All remaining qualifiers are established in March (women) and May/June (men) in the year of the Olympic Games.The IHF hopes the International Olympic Committee will give the go-ahead soon.
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