Eight teams from Europe, two from Pan-America, one from Asia and one from Africa start their “mission Olympics” next weekend (25 to 27 May). The last six of in total 24 places for the 2012 London Olympic Games Handball Tournaments will be decided in France, Spain and Denmark from Friday to Sunday. The two best ranked teams from each of those Olympic Qualification Tournaments (OQT) in Lyon, Guadalajara and Aalborg will book their tickets to the 2012 Olympic Games. The draw for the preliminary rounds will take place in London at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Wednesday, 30 May.
Six participants (Great Britain, Norway, Brazil, Angola, Korea and Sweden) are already known after the 2011 World Championship in Brazil and the continental qualification tournaments.
Tournament 1 (in Lyon, France):
Match schedule:
25 May 2012:
16:45: Montenegro vs. Japan
19:00: France vs. Romania
26 May 2012
14:45: Romania vs. Montenegro
17:00: Japan vs. France
27 May 2012:
14:15: Romania vs. Japan
16:30: France vs. Montenegro
Tournament 2 (in Guadalajara, Spain):
Match schedule:
25 May 2012:
10:45: Croatia vs. Netherlands
13:00: Spain vs. Argentina
26 May 2012:
10:45: Argentina vs. Croatia
13:00: Netherlands vs. Spain
27 May 2012:
10:15: Argentina vs. Netherlands
12:30: Spain vs. Croatia
Tournament 3 (in Aalborg, Denmark):
Match schedule:
25 May 2012:
18:15: Russia vs. Dominican Republic
20:15: Denmark vs. Tunisia
26 May 2012:
18:45: Tunisia vs. Russia
20:45: Dominican Republic vs. Denmark
27 May 2012:
18:15: Tunisia vs. Dominican Republic
20:15: Denmark vs. Russia
All data concerning playing time have to be accepted under reserve and may be changed at any time. All times are local times.
In accordance with the IHF Regulations the seeding list for the preliminary round draw on 30 May in London is the following:
Pot 1: Norway, first ranked team of OQT in Lyon
Pot 2: first ranked team of OQT in Guadalajara, first ranked team of OQT in Aalborg
Pot 3: second ranked team of OQT in Guadalajara, second ranked team of OQT in Aalborg
Pot 4: Great Britain, second ranked team of OQT in Lyon
Pot 5: Sweden, Brazil
Pot 6: Angola, Korea
source: ihf.info
