Dear Handball Friends! The 23rd Men’s Handball World Championship will start on 11 January 2013 and will be held in Spain for the first time in its eventful and very interesting history. I really believe that the World Championship in Spain will be a crowd-puller and that hosting country Spain as well as the numerous fans from abroad supporting their respective teams will make this event a true festival of handball. I wish all participating teams the very best of luck for the tournament and a good time ahead. And I hope that handball will attract the public interest and audience the players have worked hard for. The Spanish people are known as sports enthusiasts – they will cheer for their team, but also respect all the other teams in a friendly manner. Let’s enjoy the 23rd World Championship in the heart of our sport – Welcome to Spain. May the best team win and fair play prevail.