Some 50 years after its advent in Europe, handball, then in its outdoor form, was added to the Olympic Programme in time for the 1936 Games held in its "founding city" of Berlin. Men's indoor handball wasn't contested at the Games until 1972. Women's handball was added four years later.
Due to the sport's European roots, the Europeans have dominated play at the international level. Political changes throughout Eastern Europe in the past decade have had a profound effect on international handball. Between them, the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and East Germany have captured all six men's and three of the five women's Olympic gold medals since the sport was re-introduced to the Olympic Programme in 1972.
That year in Munich, Milan LAZAREVIC from Yugoslavia stole the show. He scored six goals against both Romania and Yugoslavia to take the gold. Istvan VARGA (HUN) scored the greatest number of goals in a single game that year 13 against USA but his team failed to medal nonetheless.
The Soviets have been the most dominant handball power in Olympic play. When the results of the Unified Team in 1992 are included, Soviet men posted a remarkable 25-4-3 record with three gold and one silver medal in five Olympic Games. The women were even more impressive with a 17-2-1 mark and two gold and two bronze medals in four appearances. Many of the players who won the gold for the men's team in 1992 will be competing for Russia in Atlanta. Surprisingly, neither the Russian Federation nor any other former Soviet nations qualified for the 1996 women's Olympic draw.
This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Jennifer Knight and Dianna Drayson. Special thanks to Mark Vinson and the U.S. Team Handball Federation.
| The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts. |