By Duncan Mackay

The Denmark and German Handball Federations have signed an agreement to bid jointly for the 2019 World ChampionshipsOctober 11 - Denmark and Germany are to join forces to launch a joint bid for the 2019 men's World Handball Championships, they announced today. 


The Danish Handball Federation (DHF) and the German Handball Federation (DHB) have signed an agreement on the joint bid, which will see the final staged in Denmark if the bid is successful. 

The two countries were considered the front runners to host the event, which is due to be awarded by the International Handball Federation (IHF) at the meeting of its ruling Council in Doha on October 28. 

"This is world class," said Per Bertelsen, President of the DHF.

"Our agreement with the German Handball Federation puts us in the best possible position for the bid for IHF Men's World Championships 2019.

"The national sport event organisation, Sport Event Denmark, plays an important role in this bid campaign.

"Along with Sport Event Denmark and the German Handball Federation, we look forward to presenting our joint bid to the IHF Council."

German Handball Federation President Bernhard Bauer, International Handball Federation Council member Leon Kalin, IHF Board Member and Denmark Handball Federation President Per Bertelsen have signed a deal that allows the two countries to bid jointly for the 2019 World ChampionshipsGerman Handball Federation President Bernhard Bauer, International Handball Federation Council member Leon Kalin, IHF Board Member and Denmark Handball Federation President Per Bertelsen have signed a deal that allows the two countries to bid jointly for the 2019 World Championships

Bernhard Bauer, President of the DHB, was as equally enthusiastic about the new relationship. 

"The German Handball Federation is keen to be involved in the expansion of the house of international handball," he said.

"Together with Denmark, we want to make our contribution to the development of handball.

"We will give our whole-hearted support and all of our expertise to ensure that this project is a success.

"Now we hope that in Doha we can convince the international handball family with our common project."

Under the agreement, the preliminary rounds would be held in both Germany and Denmark.

The semi-finals will then be played in Germany, while the finals and the President's Cup will be hosted by Denmark.

Both countries have previously hosted the Championships on their own.

Germany staged the very first Championships in 1938.

It was subsequently hosted by East Germany in 1954 and 1974 and West Germany in 1961 and 1982 before it was staged in a re-united Germany in 2007, which saw more than 300,000 people attend the matches.

Denmark has hosted the event once, in 1978.

Germany celebrate winning the World Handball Championships in 2007, the last occasion they were hosted in the countryGermany celebrate winning the World Handball Championships in 2007, the last occasion they were hosted in the country

"There is no doubt that the Danish-German bid for IHF Men's World Championships 2019 is incredibly strong," said Lars Lundov, chief executive of Sport Event Denmark.

"Both Denmark and Germany have strong handball cultures and have plenty of experience in hosting major, international sports events.

Together we can add significantly to the perception of playing hosts."

Both Denmark and Germany had separately signalled their interest last month in hosting the 2019 World Championship to the IHF, along with Sweden, Norway, Poland and a joint bid from Slovakia and Hungary.

Today was the deadline for presenting detailed proposals for all the bids.

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