EHF President: “We Must Strengthen Emerging Nations”—A Vision That Includes Ireland

A powerful message from the top of European handball is making waves: smaller nations like Ireland matter—and their development is central to the sport’s future.

In a revealing interview with Handball-Planet.com, European Handball Federation (EHF) President Michael Wiederer spoke candidly about the challenges and opportunities facing handball today. Among his strongest points? The urgent need to support emerging handball countries and build a broader, more inclusive European game.

“We invest a lot in mid-range and emerging nations to help them grow,” Wiederer stated, spotlighting the EHF’s strategy to boost countries like Ireland.

He pointed to the expansion of the EHF EURO to 24 teams as a key step, giving smaller nations “a valuable role in European handball.” This move, he explained, isn’t just about top-tier competition—it’s about fuelling passion, participation, and long-term growth across the continent.

“It probably won’t bring a lot of income to the TV market, but there are thousands of enthusiastic fans who play an important role,” he said.

Wiederer also acknowledged the particular difficulties of growing handball in places like Great Britain and Ireland, where hall sizes and existing sporting culture pose challenges. But instead of seeing this as a barrier, he sees it as a call to action.

“There are certain markets we would like to strengthen... Great Britain, Italy, and Turkey,” he said, underlining that growth in these regions is vital for the sport’s long-term health.

For Ireland, this is more than encouraging—it’s a sign that the EHF sees us as part of handball’s future. From school programmes and community clubs to beach handball and expat engagement, Olympic Handball Ireland is already laying the groundwork. Wiederer’s words confirm we’re building on the right path—and that we’re not building alone.

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