Beach Handball 2020 WCh - Italy

TABLE OF CONTENTS ITALY WANTS TO BE PART OF THE GAME

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ABRUZZO WELCOMES BEACH HANDBALL

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NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL FEATURES

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ABRUZZO LOVES SPORT

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ABRUZZO LOVES HANDBALL

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PESCARA 2015: THE EXPERIENCE

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1 EVENT, 2 CITIES

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THE EVENT

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COMPETITION VENUES

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EVENT HEADQUARTER

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ACCOMODATION

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TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

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INTERNAL TRANSPORT

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MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION

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ITALIAN SUCCESS IN BEACH HANDBALL

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Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

ITALY WANTS TO BE PART OF THE GAME Italian Handball wants to be part of the game. It wants to represent what it can and what it deserves to be in the World, finally building a tradition around the Handball worthy of a nation that has always had high-level Movements in Team Sports.

The desire to grow, to emerge, to shed light on the eyes of the International Handball Federation and the World of Handball in general, are the basis of this application submitted by the Italian Handball Federation and linked to a territory, the Abruzzo region, always bound by an indissoluble tie with the discipline we all love.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

ABRUZZO WELCOMES BEACH HANDBALL Abruzzo - and in particular the Province of Pescara - is a land that has always been strongly linked to the world of Sport. The link between Sport and Sea, then, has always been very strong. The Pescara City Stadium is called "Adriatic", like the sea.

Pescara was the seat of the first edition Mediterranean Beach Games in 2015, confirming once again its strong vocation of seaside town. The application to host the IHF Beach Handball World Championships was received with enthusiasm by the political representatives of the Abruzzo Region and by the two cities of the Adriatic coast: the city of Pescara, as main seat and in a leading position in the candidature, followed by the cities of Montesilvano, identified by the Organizing Committee as Accomodation Area.

The Italian Handball Federation's project is to provide 3 courts in Pescara, in the prestigious area of the "Stadio del Mare". The accommodation area is located in Montesilvano, very close to the headquarter of the event (Abruzzo Convention Center) and close to the foreseen 3 courts available for the training of the teams.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

Dear President, Dear Handball Friends, On behalf of the Italian Handball Federation it is a great pleasure for me to introduce the Italian candidacy to host the edition of the Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships 2020.As well known, FIGH is actively working in order to gain an ever-increasing relevance in the landscape of the world-wide discipline and, accordingly , the new federal governance, which I'm proud to lead, wanted to go. Your visit in Rome of the past few weeks, along with the leaders of the European Handball Federation, is the clear signal of the renewed confidence in our Federation. A trust we want to rejoin in the best way: we definitely want to be part of the game!

Italy is one of the great European countries, economically, culturally and historically appreciated all over the world for the hospitality, the organizational skills, the fine living and the variety of beautiful landscapes.

Abruzzo is certainly one of these, as well as a territory characterized by a strong tradition and vocation in hosting large sport events. The Mediterranean Beach Games organized with the ICJM and the numerous international matches of qualification for the World and European Handball Championships are just some of the events hosted in this region over the last few years, and this is also one of the reasons, along with the synergy of intentions reached with the Abruzzo Region, which led us to choose this Region and the city of Pescara and Montesilvano for the candidature at this fascinating event.

The event for which FIGH intends to run is an important test bench for the ambitions of Italy, in a discipline, Beach Handball, in which our Federation has always had great traditions. In Italy, were born the Beach Handball Rules and Italy represents, in this sport greatly increasing also in the eyes of the International Olympic Committe, an undoubtedly groundbreaking nation.The chance to be the theater of such an important event as the World Championships is an incentive, a challenge that the Italian Handball Federation is sure to face in a brilliant way.

Yours sincerely, Pasquale Loria FIGH President

Pescara 2020

IHF Beach Handball World Championships

The Abruzzo Region, based on the request of the Municipal Administrations of Pescara and Montesilvano, has the honor to support the Local Organizing Committee and the Italian Handball Federation in the candidature at the Men's and Women's Beach Handball Championships scheduled in 2020.The sport tourist vocation of Abruzzo and of the cities involved will be further highlighted by an event that will strengthen the vocation of a territory projected towards sport, tourism and territory. The assignment of the prestigious Manifestation would represent a further moment of territorial development and we are sure it would offer to all the participants times of brotherhood and joy. The Region and the cities of Pescara and Montesilvano are ready to support this initiative and ensure the necessary hospitality with the sports and hotel facilities and the beauty as well with the culinary delights.

Luciano D’Alfonso

President of Abruzzo Region

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

Dear President, the Administration of the City of Pescara has the honour to join the Local Organizing Committee and the Italian Handball Federation in the candidature for the Men's and Women's Beach Handball Championships in 2020.The sport tourist vocation of the territory of Abruzzo and of our city will be even more emphasized by an event that will strengthen the vocation of a territory projected towards sport, tourism and territory.

The City of Pescara always had a sports/tourist vocation, as testified by the central roles had in occasion of the Mediterranean Games of Pescara 2009 and of the Mediterranean Beach Games 2015 in Pescara where the local community has provided proof of enthusiasm and friendship towards the numerous delegations of the participating countries.

The assignment of the prestigious event would represent a further moment of territorial development and we are sure it would offer to the participants moments of brotherhood and joy.

Therefore, the Municipal Administration expresses the interest in support of the candidature in topic, after examination of any economic and / or organizational costs incumbent upon by the Institution and carrying out the administrative procedures envisaged by law.

Marco Alessandrini Mayor of Pescara

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

It is with a great honor that the Administration of the City of Montesilvano join the Local Organizing Committee and the Italian Handball Federation in the application for the Men's and Women's Beach Handball World Championships in 2020.

The City of Montesilvano always had a sports and touristic vocation, as testified by the central roles had in occasion of the Mediterranean Games held in Pescara in 2009 and of the Mediterranean Beach Beach Games of Pescara 2015 where the city, the Institutions e the residents showed a massive enthusiasm as well as friendship to the several participating Countries.

The assignment of this prestigious event would represent a further moment of territorial development and we are sure it would provide to the participants moments of brotherhood and joy.

The City of Montesilvano is ready to guarantee to everybody the hospitality through the sports and hotel facilities, able to host about 4.000 people, that will enjoy also the beauty and the high quality of the local enogastronomy offer.

Confident of the positive acceptance of our availability, we remain at disposal for any further information.

With our Best Regards, Francesco Maragno Mayor of Montesilvano

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL FEATURES Italy – A land of wonders Italy is a developed country with the 8th – highest quality-of-life index rating in the world. The country’s social and political stability, the general medium-to-high living standards across the population and excellent diplomatic relations with the international community ensure a high degree of social cohesion and public order.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

Art and Culture Italians call their country “Bel Paese” (beautiful country) and the 37 millions tourists that visit the country every year also agree with this statement.

Italy is a treasure chest of art, a living tableau of the human history from the earliest times, a world-famous culinary delight and natural wonder with everything from craggy mountains, volcanoes and glistering to sparkling seas and golden beaches.

Italy was one of the earliest tourist destinations of the world: as early as the 1660s noblemen from all European countries, upperclass young men with money as well as artist began making the trek to Italy in search of art, culture and roots of Western civilization.

As home to frescos and mosaics, paintings and sculpture, civil and religious architecture, Italy is the world’s greatest repository of art, an endless collection of masterpieces in city squares, churches, museums and galleries throughout the entire country. Visitors can discover the genius of Leonardo Da Vinci, Giotto, Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Caravaggio and Piero della Francesca in timeless artworks of breathtaking beauty, that also contributed to the history of Western art.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

AbruzzoRegion The region of Abruzzo is located in central Italy and stretches from the heart of the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea, on a mostly mountainous and wild terrain.

beaches to the south. Also, the small villages of the hinterland, as well as the monasteries and castles of the region, are very charming and part of many touristic routes in this the "greenest region" in Italy.

In the mountains, tourist resorts and well-- equipped facilities for skiing and winter sports rise among unpolluted peaks and rocky walls.

The natural landscape of the high and steep peaks of the Gran Sasso, Laga Mountains, and Mount Majella slopes down to a wide range of hills, until it finally reaches the Adriatic coast. The route that spans from the Gran Sasso down to the sea crosses territories that are rich in history, traditions and art that never cease to surprise visitors.

The Adriatic coast is characterized by long and sandy beaches to the north and pebbly

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

City of Pescara Pescara is the most populous city in the Abruzzo region, and is one of the top ten economic, commercial and tourist centres on the Adriatic coast. Which 150.000 inhabitants, there is plenty for everyone including a wide choice of hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops and nightlife along with some of the finest beaches in the region. Pescara is the perfect place to hold the 2020 World Beach Handball Championships, with its 15 miles of coastland and it is the largest and most important city on the Adriatic coast.

In 2009 the spotlights of the world were focused on Pescara for the incredible organization of XVI edition of the Mediterranean Games, and event now already gone down in history as “the edition of the record� for the presence of athletes, over five thousand those present, to participating countries and especially

for the thousands of citizens who attended the competitions and have supported all the team in the competition, with a record of 50 thousand visitors recorded at the closing ceremony which took place on the beach, another invaluable resource of this city.

In 2012 Pescara was awarded of the title of European City of Sport.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

HISTORY – Pescara’s origins precede the Roman conquest, in fact the village was founded to be the port of Theate, Capital of the people of Marrucini, to trade with the peoples of the Orient, a supporting role that was held for centuries. The name of both the town and the river was Aternum, it was connected to Rome through the Via Claudia Valeria and Via Tiburtina. The town was an important port for trade with Eastern provinces of the Empire. In the Middle Ages it was destroyed by the Lombards.

In 1095 Pescara was a fishing village enriched witch monuments and churches. In 1140 Roger of Sicily conquered the town, giving rise to a period in which it was destroyed by armies ravaging the Kingdom of Sicily.

The name of “Piscaria” it mentioned for the first time in this period. In the following yeas Pescara was repeatedly attacked. The modern history of the city dates back to 1927 when the towns of Pescara and Castellammare, divided by the river Pescara, were united in one city. The new city received a hard blow during World War II and has since been massively rebuilt, becoming a very modern coastal city of Italy.

CLIMATE – Pescara has a Mediterranean climate typical of Adriatic Sea, with dry, hot summers, moderate rainfall in winters and high humidity all year round. The average temperature is around 7 °C in the coldest month (January) and 24.5 °C in the warmest one (July). Pescara is a coastal city, but its climate is influenced by the surrounding mountains (the Maiella and the chain of Gran Sasso).

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

ABRUZZO LOVES SPORT In 2009 the spotlight of the world were focused on Pescara for the incredible organization of XVI edition of the Mediterranean Games, an event now already gone down in history as “the edition of the record”.

But not only. Pescara, Montesilvano and the region of Abruzzo, in fact, have been the theatre of the first edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games in 2015, demonstrating once again to the world his excellent organizational level in the sport events.

Major Events: •

2004 – HANDBALL: World Championship Qualification matches

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2005 – FUTSAL: World Championship Qualification matches 2007 – BASKET: European Championships (Women)

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2008 – BASKET: European Championships U16 (Women)

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2008 – ATHLETIC: Mediterranean Marathon

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2009 – SWIMMING: National Championships FIN

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2009 – ATHLETIC: National Championships FIDAL

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2009 – XVI Mediterranean Games

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2010 – BEACH SOCCER: National Championships

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

Major Events: • • •

2010 – TENNIS: National Championships 2011 – 2017 – IRONMAN 70.3: International Triathlon Tour 2012 – BEACH VOLLEY: National Championships FIPAV

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2014\2015 – HANDBALL: European Championships Qualification matches

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2014 – HANDBALL: Italian Supercup 2014 – HANDBALL: Mediterranean Handball Championships U18 (Men)

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2015 – HANDBALL: Mediterranean Handball Championships U18 (Men)

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2015 – Mediterranean Beach Games

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2017 – HANDBALL: Italian Youth Talents’ Camp

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

ABRUZZO LOVES HANDBALL The link between Abruzzo and Handball has deep roots. This region boasts an important tradition in this discipline, enough to represent a well respected landscape in the Nation. There are many teams that, over the years, took part in the top league championships (Serie A) : Teramo, Chieti, CittĂ Sant'Angelo are undoubtedly the three cities where was played and is played the highest level Handball.

This has always meant that Abruzzo was considered the ideal place for hosting prestigious international and national events related to Handball.

Everyone knows the popular Interamnia World Cup, an historic tournament that takes place each year in July in the city of Teramo. But also Pescara, Chieti, CittĂ Sant'Angelo and, in the past, Vasto hosted qualifying matches for the World and European Championships, as well as important national events, like the Supercoppa or Play-Off matches of the italian top league championship.

In short, the feeling between Abruzzo and Handball is strong and is ready to reinvigorate further with new future challenges.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

PESCARA 2015: THE EXPERIENCE In August 2015, Pescara was the seat of the 1st Mediterranean Beach Games, organized under the co-ordination of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (CIJM).

The event was attended by all the 24 members of the ICMG, with 11 different Sports. Among them, Beach Handball was, along with Beach Vollley, the team sports with the record of largest number of spectators.

The Beach Handball women's final between Italy and Greece saw the presence of 2,500 spectators on the stands of the �Arena del Mare".

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

1 EVENT, 2 CITIES The cities and the venues involved in the 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships will be:

Rome

Pescara

• Pescara • Montesilvano All the cities are within a radius of 6 kilometers and easily connected.

The central area of the event will be, however, the city of Montesilvano, which houses 2 of the sport facilities and where are located the headquarters of event, the hotels reserved for Athletes.

The hotels of Referees and Officials of the International Handball Federation will be provided in Pescara.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

THE EVENT The IHF Beach Handball World Championships will be developed in two main areas: the "Stadio del Mare" in Pescara, where will be set up the central Arena and two additiona courts, and the hotels' area, in the city of Montesilvano, where 3 training courts will be set up and where is also foreseen the event's headquarters, the Abruzzo Convention Center.

The period identified by the Italian Handball Federation is from 21 to 28 June 2018.

In the previous week, the city of Montesilvano will host a test event open to the participating teams at the World Championships, whose finals will then be played in the central Arena of the "Stadio del Mare" in Pescara. This will create a first Beach Handball event, which will be the preview of the IHF Beach Handball World Championships.

At the same time, within the Abruzzo Convention Center, there will be planned conventions and workshops about Beach Handball and - in agreement with IHF - general topics related to Handball.

The Italian Handball Federation will also foresee special travel packages reserved for media and fans which will reach Italy and Pescara for the IHF Beach Handball World Championships.

All the other details will be illustrated in occasion of the inspection visit in Italy.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

COMPETITION VENUES

Venue: Stadio del

Mare \ Pescara

The Italian Handball Federation and the Local Organizing Committee identified 1 venue, named “Stadio del Mare”, to host the event, with 3 courts: an Arena – with 2,000 seats – and two secondary courts with 400 seats everybody.

In the Match Schedule, some matches will be planned at nocturnal times, especially in the venue of Pescara, in the center of the city and in a very crowded area during the summer.

The “Stadio del Mare” is located in a central area, in the heart of the city of Pescara and in a "movida" zone, full of restaurants, cafe and shops.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

EVENT HEADQUARTER Abruzzo Convention Center A conference center with, in a radius of 500 mt, 4 and 3 star hotels with 4,000 beds, 500 restaurant seats and 50 conference rooms from 10 to 1,200 seats.

The "Centro Congressi d’Abruzzo", designed

by Aldo Rossi, has a 3,000 seat plenary conference room, smaller congress halls from 10 to 300 seats and wide exhibition spaces.

It hosted important exhibitions and cultural events, as well as being the headquarter of the Mediterranean Beach Games in Pescara 2015.

In that occasion, the "Centro Congressi d’Abruzzo", hosted the Congress of the CIJM (International Committee of the Mediterranean Games).

The "Centro Congressi d’Abruzzo" is located 100 meters from one of the Abruzzo's biggest shopping malls, called "Porto Allegro", which also includes 11 movie theaters.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

ACCOMODATION The city of Montesilvano, where is the Accomodation Area, is equipped with a wide range of hotel.

The hotels area is located about 200m (walking distance) from the Event Area where the Operational Center will be located.

Hotel Facilities and Event Area were used during the Mediterranean Games of Pescara 2009 and the Mediterranean Beach Games, held in Pescara in 2015.

HOTEL EVENT HEADQUARTER

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS The Italian Handball Federation and the Local Organizing Committee undertake to ensuring an efficient transport system in order to cancels the small distance between the hotels Area and the sport facilities.

FROM HOTEL TO ALL THE COURTS: • Shuttle – in charge to the Organizing Committee FROM AIRPORT \ STATION TO HOTEL: • Shuttle – in charge to the Organizing Committee

Distance to the Hotel Area Fiumicino \ Ciampino Airport

250 km

Pescara Airport

14 km

Pescara Train Station

7 km

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

INTERNAL TRANSPORT Internal transport for teams, referees, officials and all the participants will be in charge of the Italian Handball Federation.

The local administrations of Pescara and Montesilvano are already available for the creation of a “World Championships Card�, available to all athletes, coaches, referees, officials and media, for the use of public transport to reach the most attractive areas of the three cities.

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION The media coverage of the Beach Handball World Championships will be at 360°.

Communication at 360° •

Coverage of all the matches in live streaming (court 1, 2, 3) and on demand content on the WebTV of the Italian Handball Federation, "PallamanoTV”, and via Facebook Live

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Production of all matches with 4 cameras and dedicated graphics (in English)

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Finding a National TV Broadcaster for all the matches of Italy and for the final week-end (semifinal and final)

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Creation of a Media Team, also with the involvement of the University of Abruzzo

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Dedicated website and social media channel to the event

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All matches will be uploaded online (dedicated YouTube channel) and will be downloadable freely by the teams

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Finding a technology partner for upgrading the Internet line in hotels and venues

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships

ITALIAN SUCCESS IN BEACH HANDBALL Italy has been, since the origins of Beach Handball, one of the nations considered at the top of the world. The most recent and most important goal is undoubtedly the silver medal at the U17 World Championships in July 2017 at Mauritius by the Men's National: Italy will be one of the teams present in the historic Beach Handball debut at the Youth Olympics Games in Buenos Aires Aires 2018.

2011 – U19 Men’s European Championships BRONZE MEDAL 2011 – Women’s European Championships BRONZE MEDAL 2015 – Women’s European Championships BRONZE MEDAL

Since 2004, Italy has also won a total of 9 medals:

2015 – Women’s Mediterranean Games GOLD MEDAL

2004 – Women’s World Championships BRONZE MEDAL

2016 – U16 Men’s European Championships BRONZE MEDAL

2009 – Women’s European Championships GOLD MEDAL

2017 – U17 Men’s World Championships SILVER MEDAL

2009 – Women’s World Games GOLD MEDAL

Pescara 2020 IHF Beach Handball World Championships