Modern Diplomacy
Published 3 months ago
Hosting major sports tournaments can confer prestige on a country, but in the case of Egypt, the 2021 Handball World Championship will do little to repair its relations with the US, Italy and states in the Gulf, argues James M. Dorsey in this analysis.
Egyptian general-turned president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi sees the 2021 men’s handball world championship in Cairo and Alexandria as an opportunity to put his best foot forward at a time when Egypt’s relations with its closest regional and global partners are encountering substantial headwinds.
Successful hosting of the championship, the first to involve 32 rather than 24 competing teams, would also serve to counter criticism of the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Egyptian health minister Hala Zayed recently admitted that many more Egyptians contracted the virus than the government has so far reported. A successful hosting would further put a crown in the fea
Thursday, 14 January 2021
The Russian Handball Federation team (RHF) claimed a draw in their first match of the International Handball Federation (IHF) World Men’s Handball Championship, as seven group games took place on day two of the tournament in Egypt.
Competing as neutrals for the first time since the nation s flag and anthem were banned from major events for the next two years following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport the RHF drew 32-32 with Belarus in Group H.
The team’s could not be split in the contest, held at the Borg Al Arab Sports Hall in Alexandria.
Wednesday, 13 January 2021
The United States have withdrawn from the International Handball Federation (IHF) Men s Handball World Championship because of a COVID-19 outbreak, but hosts Egypt were victorious as the event began.
Egypt defeated Chile 35-29, but not before the US became the second team to withdraw from the tournament behind the Czech Republic.
Switzerland, as the 16th-place finishers at the last European Championship, were invited to take the place of the Americans and slot into Group E.
A majority of our players and staff members tested positive for the virus following a training camp in Denmark, USA Team Handball said in a statement.
Czech Republic withdraw on eve of Men’s World Handball Championship Tuesday, 12 January 2021
North Macedonia has been drafted in as a late replacement for the Czech Republic on the eve of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Men’s World Championship in Egypt.
With one day to go before the competition is scheduled to get underway, the IHF has confirmed the Czech team asked to withdraw after returning several positive coronavirus test results before flying to Egypt.
The withdrawal is a blow to the Czech Republic, who were set to make their first appearance at the event since 2015 and a setback to organisers who are staging the tournament against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday, 31 December 2020
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has stressed the need for participants at the upcoming World Men s Handball Championship to adhere to COVID-19 countermeasures to ensure the tournament in Cairo is a success.
Madbouly received an overview of the measures that will be in place at the competition during a recent visit to inspect the Cairo Stadium Sports Hall, due to hold the ceremonies and medal matches.
The Prime Minister also took part in a meeting with other Government Ministers to discuss preparations for the tournament, scheduled to open on January 13.
According to the International Handball Federation (IHF), Madbouly focused on the safety and medical precautions set for all participants and stressed the importance of coordination among all ministries and authorities involved before and during the event .