[ad_1]
NOT AT HOME: There will be no European Championships at home for Thorir Hergeirsson and the handball girls. From left to right Stine Bredal Oftedal, former coach Mia Högdahl, Hergeirsson, Heidi Løke and Camilla Herrem at last year’s World Cup. Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk
However, the European Handball Championship will not be held in Norway. The handball association reports in a press release on Monday morning.
– Based on the comprehensive assessments by the Norwegian health authorities, as well as the clear demands and wishes of the political authorities, it is clear that Norway cannot be the organizer of the European Handball Championship in December, says the handball association in the press release .
– We are grateful for the spirit of cooperation and common understanding that we have known between our EHF and DHF co-organizers. At the same time, of course, we must acknowledge with great regret that this time it was not possible to organize home championships for Norway. We had been very happy, says the president of the Norwegian Handball Association, Kåre Geir Lio, and continues:
– We have turned every stone in the hope of reaching the Norwegian championship. Now is the time to accept that it is not possible, with the guidelines that apply here at home. We respect that. We have said several times that the Norwegian authorities are world champions in infection control, and I am happy to repeat this.
also read
That’s why Kurtovic said no to the reserve role: – I’ve had a very hard year
Will help Denmark
Lio says the NHF is now working to help Denmark as the sole organizer of the championship. But the Danish Handball Association cannot guarantee in their press release that they can organize the 16-nation championship.
– It is a huge task ahead of us, says Per Bertelsen, president of the Danish association, which promises to provide more information on Tuesday.
The European Championship test from December 3 to 20 has been under pressure throughout the pandemic.
– Impossible to know something, handball president Kåre Geir Lio told VG already on March 25.
The European Championship should have been the handball girls’ first chance to play a final at home in 21 years. Norway also hosted the European Championship in 2010 together with Denmark, but then the final of the championship took place in Herning.
Hard work: Handball president Kåre Geir Lio and the rest of the Norwegian association have had many difficult decisions in the last year in relation to the championship that was to be held at home. Photo: Frode Hansen
A long process
At the end of August, the Handball Association agreed on a financial rescue package for a championship with a limited audience or no spectators. They then went down to a host city and Trondheim was chosen for the group stage, main round, semi-final and final.
A month later, the clouds darkened over the championship. Handball president Kåre Geir Lio opened in VG for the first time because it would not be possible to organize the European Championship in Norway.
– We see risk and there are things we need to consider in relation to implementation. Well inventing new smart measures introducing and protecting or evaluating if it is possible to fix this. In a nutshell, then said the handball president Kåre Geir Lio.
also read
Herrem claims he was asked to lose weight: – It can be dangerous
I would have no different rules
Section 4 b of the Norwegian Crown Regulations states that all persons who have been in close contact with an infected person for 48 hours prior to a positive test must be quarantined for 10 days. With the Danish co-organizers, the infected player / leader will isolate themselves, while any teammates and opponents will be able to prove themselves out of the situation.
In Norway, an infected team, and a possible opponent, would have to be quarantined and therefore out of the championship. The Handball Association requested an exemption from the crown regulations. The coach of the national team, Thorir Hergeirsson, believes that different rules should not be lived in the same championship.
– Based on the principle of fair play, it should be the same. We are very concerned about that. Regardless of whether it’s the rules of the game on the court or the frame and championship rules, Hergeirsson notes.
