International Handball Federation

A group called the IHF helps people play handball. They run big games for men and women. These games bring many lands together.

The group started in 1946. It was made by eight lands. Now, 209 lands are members. They work in a city called Basel.

There are six groups for different parts of the world. These groups help organize more games. They even have games played on sand.

One leader is named Hassan Moustafa. He has been the leader since 2000. He helps run the sport every day. It is a big job for him.

The IHF is a big group for handball. It helps people play handball and beach handball. This group is based in Basel, Switzerland. It was started in 1946 in Denmark. Eight countries helped start it. Now, 209 countries are members. These members belong to six regional groups. These groups cover Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas.

The IHF runs many big games. They run the Men's World Championship. This started in 1938. They also run the Women's World Championship. This started in 1957. Handball even became part of the Olympic Games. This happened in 1972 for men. It happened in 1976 for women.

A group called the Congress makes big choices. It meets every two years. Each member country gets one vote. This helps them decide on new rules. The Council also makes big choices. They pick which country will host the World Championship. Hassan Moustafa has been the President since 2000. He helps lead the group every day.

The International Handball Federation, or IHF, is the main group for handball. It manages both indoor handball and beach handball. This group makes sure the sport is played fairly around the world. They organize many huge tournaments for players. The IHF World Men's Handball Championship is one of their biggest events. That tournament actually began way back in 1938. They also run the IHF World Women's Handball Championship. That one started in 1957.

Running such a big group takes a lot of work. The IHF is based in Basel, Switzerland. It is made of 209 national federations. Each member belongs to one of six regional groups. These groups are Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. The Americas are split into two groups: North America and the Caribbean, and South and Central America. This split happened in early 2018. These regional groups help organize games for both countries and clubs.

History shows how the group grew over time. Before the IHF, there was the International Amateur Handball Federation. That group started during the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. The IHF itself was founded on July 12, 1946. Eight countries met at the Palace Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, to start it. These countries were Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Gösta Björk from Sweden was the very first president.

Decisions in the IHF happen through special meetings. The IHF Congress is the most important group. It is an assembly of representatives from every member. Each national association gets exactly one vote. This means even small countries have a say. The Congress meets every two years during odd years. They vote on new rules and elect leaders. They also pick the President and the General Secretary. The Council is a smaller group of 18 people. They make big choices between the Congress meetings.

Handball has become a very famous sport. It was added to the Olympic Games thanks to the IHF. Men's handball joined the Olympics in Munich in 1972. Women's handball joined the Olympics in Montreal in 1976. Today, Hassan Moustafa has been the President since November 2000. He leads the group from Egypt. The IHF also gives awards to great people. They have prizes like the IHF Hall of Fame. These awards celebrate people who help the sport grow.

The International Handball Federation, known as the IHF, is the global governing body for handball and beach handball. It serves as the central administrative and controlling authority for the sport worldwide. The IHF is responsible for organizing major international competitions that bring together the best athletes. These include the IHF World Men's Handball Championship and the IHF World Women's Handball Championship. By managing these tournaments, the IHF ensures that handball is played consistently across different nations.

The organization operates through a structured hierarchy of governance. The supreme body is the IHF Congress, which is an assembly of representatives from every affiliated member association. In this assembly, each national handball association receives exactly one vote. This system ensures that every member has an equal voice, regardless of its size or handballing strength. The Congress meets in ordinary sessions every two years during odd-numbered years. These meetings follow the IHF World Men's Handball Championship. During the Congress, members make vital decisions regarding governing statutes and their implementation. They also approve annual reports, accept new national associations, and hold elections for leadership.

Between the sessions of the Congress, the IHF Council acts as the main decision-making body. The Council is composed of 18 people, including the President and five Vice Presidents. This group is responsible for significant tasks, such as deciding which country will host the World Championship. The daily administration of the federation is managed by the General Secretariat. This office is led by the President and the General Secretary. Currently, Hassan Moustafa from Egypt has served as the President since November 26, 2000.

The IHF is a massive global network comprising 209 national federations. To manage this scale, the membership is organized into six regional confederations. These continental groups are Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and the Caribbean, and South and Central America. The structure of these groups changed recently. Until 2017, there were only five continental confederations. On January 14, 2018, the IHF Council divided the Pan-American Confederation. This created two distinct groups: the North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation, and the South and Central America Handball Confederation. These regional bodies organize both continental championships and international club tournaments.

The history of the IHF traces back to the early 20th century. Its precursor was the International Amateur Handball Federation, or IAHF. The IAHF was founded in Amsterdam during the 1928 Olympic Games. The modern IHF was officially established on July 12, 1946. Representatives from eight founding nations met at the Palace Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. These nations were Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Gösta Björk from Sweden served as the first president. He was later succeeded by Hans Baumann from Switzerland in 1950.

Handball has achieved significant milestones on the world stage through IHF leadership. The first IHF Men's World Championship was held in Sweden in 1954 with six participating teams. The first IHF World Women's Handball Championship took place in 1957 in SFR Yugoslavia with nine teams. A major breakthrough occurred when handball was included in the Olympic Games. The men's tournament debuted at the Munich 1972 Olympics. The women's tournament followed at the Montreal 1976 Olympics. Today, the IHF oversees a vast array of competitions, including youth championships and beach handball events.

Beyond tournament organization, the IHF fosters the growth of the sport through various commissions and awards. Specialized groups like the Medical Commission and the Athletes' Commission focus on specific aspects of the game. The IHF also recognizes excellence through prestigious honors. These include the IHF Hall of Fame and the IHF World Player of the Year award. These efforts connect the technical administration of the sport to the community of players and coaches. By maintaining these standards, the IHF supports the global development of handball.