In December 2015, two Olympic Solidarity Courses were held in Belarus and Gambia. The courses are part of the IOC Olympic Solidarity Programme which forms an assistance to the NOCs of smaller nations in form of programmes elaborated jointly by the IOC and the NOCs with the technical assistance of the International Federations.

From 7 to 11 December, overall 29 coaches took part in a level 2 course held in Minsk, Belarus by IHF lecturer Dr Zoltán Marczinka. The participants worked in a positive and cooperative manner during the 5-day course, which included 9 theoretical and 5 practical lessons. For the practical lessons, players from the local handball school were invited and even though their level of handball actually was too low for the course, their training attitude and enthusiasm were excellent. 

Lecturer Marczinka said the Federation have a rich handball history and they put a lot of effort in bringing up a new generation.  For him “coaching education and developing a new pool of elite trainers could be a tool for success.”

IHF lecturer Peter Kovacs held a level 2 Olympic Solidarity Course from 10-20 December in Bakau, Gambia. The 18 participants, motivated and eager to learn more about handball, were trained for example in defence-offence techniques and tactics and game evaluation. Their interest in the sport shows that with proper education and support, a good groundwork for the further development of handball in the country can be created.