From January 21 to 24, Montpellier will host three matches of the men’s World Handball Championship: two 1/8 finals and one quarter final. Montpellier is one of the eight host cities for this competition, being held in France for the first time since 2001. Our “Experts” (the team’s surname) hope to take the title for the sixth time.
The Montpellier Arena stadium welcomes some of the world’s top handball players from January 21 to 24. Montpellier is one of the eight cities chosen to host the 25th men’s Handball Championship, taking place from January 11 to 29. Twenty-four countries are participating in this competition, which is being held in France for the third time: first in 1970, then 2001, and more recently, in 2007, for the women’s championship. Spectators at the Arena will be able to attend the 1/8 finals on January 21 and 22, and the quarter finals on January 24. Semi-finals and the final match will be held at Paris-Bercy on January 26, 27, and 29. As an opener, the Arena is hosting the last preparation match with the French team against Slovenia.
The quality of the Arena facility is probably the reason for Montpellier’s selection, with its 8,500-seat multipurpose hall that meets the requirements of national and international events. Above all, the Hérault metropolis holds a special place in the handball world. “Montpellier Handball Club (MHB) has been by far the biggest French club for the past many years, with 14 French championship titles, 13 French Cups, 10 League Cups, and a European Champions League Cup,” points out François Garcia, local representative of the World Handball Championship. “MHB has made Montpellier a stronghold for the sport.”
Most of the French national team players where trained in Montpellier, including Nikola Karbatic, Michael Guigou, Ludovic Fabregas, and Vincent Gérard, the “Experts” who helped win their fifth title last year in Quatar, now hoping to write their names for the sixth time in the history of this competition. “Now, let’s just make sure the French team is up to the challenge of a final,” adds François Garcia.
Find out more:
- France Handball 2017
- Living in Montpellier
The quality of the Arena facility is probably the reason for Montpellier’s selection, with its 8,500-seat multipurpose hall that meets the requirements of national and international events. Above all, the Hérault metropolis holds a special place in the handball world. “Montpellier Handball Club (MHB) has been by far the biggest French club for the past many years, with 14 French championship titles, 13 French Cups, 10 League Cups, and a European Champions League Cup,” points out François Garcia, local representative of the World Handball Championship. “MHB has made Montpellier a stronghold for the sport.”
Most of the French national team players where trained in Montpellier, including Nikola Karbatic, Michael Guigou, Ludovic Fabregas, and Vincent Gérard, the “Experts” who helped win their fifth title last year in Quatar, now hoping to write their names for the sixth time in the history of this competition. “Now, let’s just make sure the French team is up to the challenge of a final,” adds François Garcia.
Find out more:
- France Handball 2017
- Living in Montpellier
