Hand the Ball – turning major Championships into inspiration to move
In connection with the 2020 European Handball Championship and the 2023 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship, the City of Stockholm has collaborated with "Hand the Ball" to get more children and young people moving. Through playful, inclusive handball activities in schools and local communities, the championships became more than major sporting events — they also helped create positive and sustainable leisure opportunities for children and young people in Stockholm.
The Championship as starting point for more movement
When Stockholm hosted the final weekend of the 2020 European Handball Championship, the championship became the starting point for a broader collaboration focused on movement among children and young people. Through Hand the Ball, the City of Stockholm worked with Handbollslandslaget AB and the Stockholm Handball Federation to create more physical activity at six elementary schools in Stockholm. The goal was not only to carry out a major sporting event, but to build a long-term and sustainable initiative for children and young people in the Stockholm area.
Playful handball with lower barriers
Hand the Ball is an educational movement concept within the Swedish Handball Federation, centered on the green ball. The concept focuses on play, inclusion, and communication, while reducing the emphasis on performance and results. Its purpose is to create a platform for positive leisure time and to encourage children and young people to be physically active, collaborate, and discover the joy of movement.
A championship that made a difference beyond the arena
The work connected to the 2020 European Championship became an example of how an international championship can leave a mark beyond the arena. Through activities in schools, more children had the opportunity to try handball in a simple and accessible way. The initiative also helped strengthen handball’s presence in areas where organized sports are not always a given.
From European Championship collaboration to World Championship legacy
Ahead of and during the 2023 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship, the work took further steps. The men’s World Championship was hosted by Sweden and Poland, with the final week held in Stockholm at Tele2 Arena. At the same time, Hand the Ball was used as part of the championship’s social legacy, with initiatives in several host cities and in collaboration with the Swedish Handball Federation, district federations, and local clubs.
Handball as a path to community
For the City of Stockholm, the collaboration shows how major sporting events can serve as a driver of public health, inclusion, and local development. Through Hand the Ball, handball has become a tool for creating movement, community, and new pathways into organized sports – with children and young people at the center.
Want to know more?
Read more about the "Hand the ball"-project