ACOG - handball - IBM

Thumbnail Detailed Information
  • Olympic Handball Overview
  • Spectator's Guide to Handball
  • Who to Watch in Handball
  • History of Olympic Handball
  • Olympic Medals in Handball
  • Competition Dates
    24 Jul to 4 Aug 1996

    O Men's Handball Competition Schedule
    O Women's Handball Competition Schedule

    Venue
    Georgia World Congress Center
    Capacity: 7,400
    Georgia Dome (men’s finals)
    Capacity: 35,500

    Events/Disciplines
    Two Events
    MenWomen
    TeamTeam

    Number of Athletes
    192 men (12 teams of 16), 128 women (8 teams of 16), 320 total

    Changes Since Barcelona
    For the first time in Olympic history, time outs will be instituted. Teams will have 16 players, not 15.

    Qualifications
    Men: The first seven-placed teams from the 1995 World Championships and four continental reps. The United States automatically qualified as host country.
    Women: The top four teams from the 1995 World Championships, and four continental qualifiers. The United States automatically qualified as host country.

    Competition Format
    Men play in two pools of six teams and women play in two pools of four teams. At the end of pool play the top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals. The two winners of the semifinals play for gold.

    International Federation
    IHF - Fédération Internationale de Handball
    B.P. 312
    4020 Bale, Switzerland or
    Lange Gasse 10
    4052 Bale, Switzerland
    Tel: (41-61) 272-1300
    Fax: (41061) 272-1344

    Olympic Debut
    Men: outdoor 1936 only, indoor 1972
    Women: 1976

    Shockwave Animation


    Olympic Factoid
    The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).