The popularity of teamhandball worldwide is a little akin to that of cricket or baseball in that not a great deal of nations play the game to a high standard, but in the countries that do, it is up there with the most popular sports in the country. 

The origins of the modern game of team handball can be traced to northern Europe, primarily Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden. Varying sets of rules were set up in both Denmark and Germany. Over time these were improved upon and eventually led to the first international matches – Germany and Belgium men’s teams meeting in 1925 under this code of laws.

The sport remains popular in those countries where it first emerged. In Germany, for example, the sport is second only to soccer as a spectator sport. Other countries namely the Scandinavian nations of Sweden and Denmark plus France, Croatia and Spain are also very skilled in the sport. Norway and Russia generally continue to dominate the women’s side of the sport.

The men’s game debuted on football fields at the 1936 Games in Berlin, and over time evolved so that it next appeared in indoor form in 1972 at Munich. The women’s game was added to the Olympics at Montreal in 1976. Today team handball is played in over 150 countries.