Handball

Sport Overview

Handball at Tokyo 2020

Venue: Yoyogi National Stadium

Competition Dates: July 24-August 8, 2021 (Days 1-16)

Events: 2 (1 men, 1 women)

Trivia: Test your knowledge!

National Federation: Handball Canada

International Federation: International Handball Federation (IHF)

Often referred to as the fastest team ball sport, handball features physical contact and end-to-end action with high jumps, powerful throws, and spectacular agility. The goal? To score the most goals by throwing a small ball past the defending goaltender into a net using only the hands to pass and dribble.

First appearing at the Olympic Games in 1936 as an outdoor game with 11 players per side, it is a seven-a-side indoor version that has been on the Olympic program since Munich 1972.

The men’s and women’s tournaments each feature 12 teams divided into two pools of six for a preliminary round robin. The top four teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals, from which the winners advance to the semifinals. The semifinal victors face off for gold while the semifinal loses play for bronze.

Each game is divided into two 30-minute halves. If a game is tied after regulation, an overtime of two five-minute halves is played. If the game is still tied, a second overtime of the same format is played, which is followed if necessary, by a shootout.

Canada’s Olympic History (Pre-Tokyo 2020)

Canada has competed in handball at just one Olympic Games, Montreal 1976, when it was guaranteed entry as the host nation.