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Handball - 18. April 2012.

Handball on track to deliver Olympic Legacy with 100 days to go

THE future of elite handball in Britain took a major step forward this week,
after British Handball, England Handball and Scottish Handball agreed a
clear pathway for the development of international players.



Handball is the fastest growing sport in the country at the moment, with
tens of thousands of children and young people across the country being
introduced to the sport as part of plans to fully harness the potential
legacy from the London Olympics.



But under this new partnership, those young people will now have a clear
pathway to follow as they aim to represent their country at European, World
and Olympic level.



The news helps cement handball's place in Britain's sporting landscape after
2012, with real long-term plans being made for the future.



At international level Great Britain teams will play in official European,
World and Olympic competitions, while Scotland and England teams will be
selected from the Academies and continue to participate in UK and European
training camps and tournaments.



Discussions are ongoing between England Handball, Scottish Handball and the
Irish Olympic Handball Association to establish a Home International series
from youth level up to seniors.



Lorraine Brown, British Handball's Performance Director, said: "It's
fantastic to be working in collaboration with the Home Nations. The work
they've done over the last two years building a foundation for the game will
put us in good stead for the future.



"To have clarity about what our role will be in the future can only benefit
the sport, and this will ensure there is a sustainable system in the future
for Rio 2016 and into 2020."



And Mike Briers, chairman of England Handball, added: "There is a tremendous
influx of new players who are being attracted to the sport of handball. The
Player Pathway will offer all of them a real opportunity to progress from
junior club players, through the age groups, to GB representation in
European, World and Olympic Competitions."



And Stephen Neilson from Scottish Handball added: "Scottish players have
played a big part in the existing GB teams, and we aim to maximise our
involvement in the future. Our system of regular primary and secondary
school championships will continue with youth club championships expanding
to five age categories next season."



And Mick Hegarty, England Handball's Director of Performance, stated: "These
exciting decisions are a positive reflection of how keen both BHA and EHA
are to work together to produce podium quality teams in the not too distant
future."



England Handball's existing four-year Player Pathway Programme for
9-13-year-olds, which has been growing and developing the talent pool of
elite youth players, will be re-branded as the England Talent Pathway (ETP),
which will incorporate a network of Regional and National Academies for
players from 12-18-years-old.



Scottish Handball will continue with the building of national age group
teams which will now integrate into the Great Britain Performance Programme
and define a new four year player pathway strategy starting in 2013 which
will be aligned with the Rio Olympic cycle.
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