HANDBALL
Handball made a brief appearance on the Olympic programme in 1936 when it was played on an outdoor pitch.
It was re-introduced for men as an indoor sport at the 1972 Summer Olympics . Women’s handball competition followed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
In handball, two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team. Handball is played on a court of 40 by 20 metres with a goal in the middle of each end.
The goals are surrounded by a 6-meter (20 ft) zone where only the defending goalkeeper is allowed; goals must be scored by throwing the ball from outside the zone or while “diving” into it. A standard match consists of two periods of 30 minutes, and the team that scores more goals wins.
National Federation: Ireland Handball
International Federation: International Handball Federation