The 2011 World Men's Handball Championship, the 22nd event hosted by the International Handball Federation, was held in Sweden from 13–30 January, 2011. All matches were played in Malmö, Lund, Kristianstad, Gothenburg, Skövde, Jönköping, Linköping and Norrköping.
In the preliminary round, 24 teams from all the world's continents were split into 4 groups, with the first placed 3 teams advancing through the main round in two groups, carrying the previously won points against the remaining teams. France won the tournament after defeating Denmark in the final, while Spain won the bronze medal after defeating Sweden in the third place match. Thus, France has qualified for the tournament at the London Olympics. The teams that finished in 2nd–7th place will play Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Host broadcaster was the Swedish commercial network TV4 Sport and the television rights were sold to other countries. The tournament returned to Sweden after 18 years, currently the longest absence in history.
One of the objectives of the championship was to create a multicultural party that extends far outside the handball arenas.
Read more about 2011 World Men's Handball Championship: Venues, List of Qualified Teams, Draw, Squads, Match Officials, Preliminary Round, Main Round, Final Round (Kristianstad/Malmö), IHF Broadcasting Rights
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or men:
“In a world that holds books and babies and canyon trails, why should one condemn oneself to live day-in, day-out with people one does not like, and sell oneself to chaperone and correct them?”
—Ruth Benedict (1887–1948)
“A man of genius is not a man who sees more than other men do. On the contrary, it is very often found that he is absentminded and observes much less than other people.... Why is it that the public have such an exaggerated respect for him—after he is dead? The reason is that the man of genius understands the importance of the few things he sees.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)