Dear Handball Friends from all over the world, The time has come that Qatar stands in the spotlight of international sports, as this country has prepared the biggest handball event of the International Handball Federation. For the first time a World Championship will be staged in the Gulf Region, but Qatar has developed a strong handball culture and tradition in the past years. Qatar has worked really hard in the preparation period, and the arenas where this Championship will be played, stand as witness to the tremendous work and efforts the Organizing Committee invested in order to secure the best possible conditions for the 24 participating teams. We can proudly say that the entire handball infrastructure built around Qatar 2015 will also stand as a legacy for future generations to come. As a stepping stone to the even greater development of handball not only in Qatar and the Gulf Region, but across Asia and the world as well. From 15 January to 1 February,