One of Sweden’s most popular sports is in the midst of a World Championship.  And it’s in Sweden.  And it seems that a majority of the rest of the world could care less.  The US included.  It’s Team Handball of course! The tournament started on January 13^th and will continue until January 30^th.

This is not the American variant of hitting a ball against a wall with your hand.  Hence the team at the front of the name in the US.  Team handball is played with seven people from each team on the court at the same time and is played on a court about the size of an indoor soccer court.  There are two halves of 30 minutes each, and the object is a simple one: get the ball past the opposing goalie and bury it in the net.  I’ve often heard team handball described as some sort of basketball/hockey/indoor soccer hybrid.  And it is.  Kind of.  But that doesn’t really do the sport justice.

Team handball is a fast paced sport and quite popular in the Nordic countries, possibly because the Nordic countries tend to be pretty good at it.  That being said, it’s been a few years since Sweden medaled in the Olympics or World Championships, although the country does hold the overall historical lead in medal count at the World Championships.

In case you were wondering, the United States is not involved, although they are making a push in the handball world and focusing on a national team hoping to find a place at the Olympics.

If you’re interested in following the action, check out the official website for the 22^nd Men’s Handball World Championship.