Representatives of the northern clubs THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt have expressed concern about the handball world championship in Egypt (January 13 to 31, 2021) in view of the corona pandemic. At the same time, they criticized the HBL season start on October 1st and Düsseldorf as the venue for the Pixum Super Cup, which both teams will contest on September 26th in the ISS DOME there.
Referring to the interview in the Sport Bild from yesterday Wednesday “Handball stars threatened to halve their salaries” with Marc Weinstock, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of THW Kiel, and Boy Meesenburg, Head of the Advisory Board of SG Flensburg-Handewitt, the President Andreas Michelmann (German Handball Federation ) and Uwe Schwenker (LIQUI MOLY HBL) to the solidarity of the handball family and the shared responsibility for the sport of handball.
HBL President Uwe Schwenker says: “We are all in the same boat. This knowledge has carried us through the crisis so far. So far, all decisions have been made with great solidarity in mind. These joint decisions continue to be unrestricted. In plain language: A season start on October 1st remains firmly in our focus. This enables us to keep to the schedule for the 2020/21 season. Our fans, TV partners and sponsors also build on this. Another postponement thwarted all previous plans and endangered other national and international competitions that are enormously important for German handball. This also includes the World Cup in Egypt. Host Egypt and host IHF will do everything possible to ensure a safe World Cup. ”
And Schwenker continues: “Certainly, we are facing a very difficult season that will be tough on everyone involved. It is all the more important that we remain vigilant and solidary on our course and, despite all individual needs, continue to serve the bigger picture as a whole. ”
“ All of German handball benefits from a men’s world championship in January, ”emphasizes DHB President Andreas Michelmann. “The broadcasts from ARD and ZDF enable the national team to play games in prime time and thus reach up to ten million viewers. Our participation is important for the national and international positioning of German handball and must therefore be our common will.
The clubs form the backbone of the national teams. That is why we have successfully fought for money from the federal corona aid fund through Teamsport Deutschland – up to 800,000 euros are possible to compensate for loss of income due to a lack of spectators. This money is intended to stabilize the clubs and thus also the national teams so that they can successfully take part in international championships. Organizer IHF and host Egypt are keeping an eye on the development of the corona pandemic – we are sure that both are responsible decision-makers. “
LIQUI MOLY HBL will open the 2020/21 season on September 26th with the Pixum Super Cup, where the German champions THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt will meet in Düsseldorf. On Saturday, September 5th, the preliminary round groups for the handball world championship will be drawn in Cairo.
