Norwegian Handball Federation

Norwegian Handball Federation
Norges Håndballforbund
NHF
IOC nationKingdom of Norway (NOR)
National flag
SportHandball
Other sports
Official websitewww.handball.no
HISTORY
Year of formation2 May 1937 (1937-05-02)[1]
DEMOGRAPHICS
Membership size138 997 (as of 2019)
AFFILIATIONS
International federationInternational Handball Federation[1] (IHF)
IHF member since1946 (1946)
Continental associationEuropean Handball Federation[1]
National Olympic CommitteeNorwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports[1]
GOVERNING BODY
PresidentRandi Gustad
HEADQUARTERS
Address
CountryNorway
Secretary GeneralMr. Erik Langerud
FINANCE
SponsorsHummel International
Norsk Tipping
Gjensidige
Scandic Hotels
Verdens Gang
REMA 1000
H.M. Kristiansens Automobilbyrå
Posten Norge
Opel

The Norwegian Handball Federation (Norwegian: Norges Håndballforbund, NHF) is the national handball association in Norway.

The Norwegian Handball Federation was founded in 1937, and is a member of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF), the European Handball Federation (EHF) and the International Handball Federation. Its headquarters are in Oslo.[1]

National teams

Women

Main article: Norway women's national handball team

The Norway women's national handball team is one of the most successful in handball history. The team played its first match against Sweden in 1946 and emerged as an international force with a bronze medal at the 1986 World Championship.[2]

The women's team has won five World Championship titles (1999, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2025), ten European Championship titles (a record), and three Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2024).[3] Norway is the only team in handball history, men's or women's, to have won the European Championship four consecutive times (2020, 2022, 2024, and 2026).[3] The team has held all three major titles simultaneously on three occasions (2011–12, 2014–15, 2024–25).

Notable coaches include Marit Breivik (1994–2009), who led the team to six international gold medals, and Thorir Hergeirsson (2009–2024), under whom the team continued its dominance.[4]

Men

Main article: Norway men's national handball team

The Norway men's national handball team has historically been less successful than the women's team but experienced a breakthrough in the late 2010s. Under coach Christian Berge (2014–2022), the team won silver medals at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2020 European Championship.[4] Star player Sander Sagosen was named MVP at both World Championship finals.

The men's team qualified for only one Olympic Games (1972) prior to 2020 but have since become regular contenders at major championships.[2]

Domestic competitions

The NHF organises the top-level handball leagues in Norway, known as REMA 1000-ligaen for both men and women.

The men's league was established in 1966 and is contested by fourteen teams. Sandefjord TIF holds the record for most league titles, while Elverum has won the most playoff championships.[2]

The women's league was established in 1968. Larvik HK dominated the competition for two decades, winning nineteen league titles including thirteen consecutive championships from 2004–05 to 2016–17.[2] Vipers Kristiansand ended Larvik's dominance in 2018 and has since emerged as the leading club.

Norwegian clubs have achieved success in European competition. Larvik HK won the EHF Champions League in 2011, and Vipers Kristiansand won the title three times consecutively (2021, 2022, 2023).[5]

Events hosted

Norway has hosted or co-hosted several major international handball tournaments:

Norway is scheduled to co-host the 2031 World Men's Handball Championship with Denmark and Iceland.

History

Former presidents of the federation include Carl E. Wang (president 1972–1977),[8] Tor Lian (president 1985–1999),[9] and Karl-Arne Johannessen (president 1999–2004 and 2009–2015).[10] Kåre Geir Lio was president from 2015.[11] In May 2025 Randi Gustad was elected new president of the Norwegian Handball Federation, succeeding Lio.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Bryhn, Rolf. "Norges Håndballforbund". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Great Norwegian Encyclopedia (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Handball in Norway". Life in Norway. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Norway". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b "A new world championship era for Norway, but will there be a familiar ending?". International Handball Federation. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Vipers write history as they lift DELO EHF Champions League title". International Handball Federation. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Women's World Handball Championship". Hafjell Resort. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  7. ^ "2025 IHF Men's World Championship". Inspired by Handball. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  8. ^ Tvedt, Knut Are. "Carl Egil Wang". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  9. ^ Singdahlsen, Karl Filip (15 July 2016). "Den tidligere håndballederen Tor Lian er død". idrettsforbundet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  10. ^ Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Karl-Arne Johannessen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  11. ^ Berge, Grete Ingebjørg; Lurås, Ragnar (11 May 2015). "Ny president i Norges Handballforbund". nrk.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Randi Gustad ny håndballpresident". nrk.no (in Norwegian). 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
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