„Handball is one of the most exciting team sports in the Olympic program“
Interview with the Swedish IOC member Professor Arne Ljungqvist before the start of the Men’s World Championship in his home country
Since 1994 Professor Arne Ljungqvist is member of the International Olympic Committee. The former Swedish high jumper (born in 1931, Olympics participant in 1952) is a medical expert and has or had several functions in national and international sports and in medicine. Ljungqvist started in the Swedish Athletics Association, in which he became President in 1973, then he became member of the IAAF Council and Chairman of the IAAF Medical Commission. Since 1999 he is board member of the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada), 2008 he became Vice President of this organization. Since 1987 he is member and since 2003 chairman of the IOC medical commission. In an interview with the World Handball Magazine Ljungqvist talks about his relationship to handball and the upcoming Men’s World Championship in his home country.
Sweden will host the Men’s Handball World Championship in January 2011. Will you attend the matches?
Ljungqvist: Yes, that is my intention.
What’s your personal relation to handball?
Ljungqvist: Handball was my Number 1 winter sport when I was young. I played in the Swedish Handball league (local Stockholm division), but stopped when I became international in high jump.
How’s the general interest for handball in Sweden and your National Olympics Committee?
Ljungqvist: We have a very great interest which is based on the long series of successful participation of the men’s team at important international tournaments like World Championships and Olympic Games.
What makes Sweden a brilliant host for this major event?
Ljungqvist: The great interest of handball in the country that will give the World Championship quite a lot of attention. In Sweden we have a knowledgeable audience which knows to appreciate high quality handball and good facilities.
As an IOC member – how big is the importance of handball in the IOC?
Ljungqvist: This is difficult to judge whether there is a general view within the IOC membership. In my view, however, handball is one of the most exciting team sports on the Olympic Program. Handball has full action throughout the matches, no boring periods, many goals and never 0-0 matches.
Will the “Tre Kronor” team be able to win the World Championship on home ground?
Ljungqvist: Probably not. Our team is in a transitional phase with many new, young players who do not yet have the necessary experience of high level tournaments over a two weeks period.