FAQ: What is Generation Handball?

So what is Generation Handball..? Find answers to frequently asked questions here. Please e-mail us at info@generation-handball.com, if you do not find your answer here.

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REGISTRATION

What is Generation Handball?
Generation Handball has a strong, international handball tournament as its foundation, but with numerous of other activities and events, Generation Handball is much more than a handball tournament: It’s a handball festival. Generation Handball has three main pillars: FUN, FIGHT, FRIENDSHIP, and we aim to be The friendliest handball festival in the world. Youth teams in the age of 9-20 years can participate, and there are no specific level requirements. We also have a senior tournament for professional senior teams and a beach handball tournament for the youth teams.
In 2023, 175 teams and 40 referees from 20 different countries participated.

When is Generation Handball?
The festival is always held in week 31. In 2024, the festival takes place from 29 July to 3 August: We begin on Monday 29 July, and the tournament begins on Tuesday 30 July at 8-9 AM. The U-20 finals are played on Friday 2 August, and the U-11 to U-17 finals are played on Saturday 3 August. The last matches are finished around 4-5 PM on Saturday. Beach handball can be played from Monday at 12 PM to Saturday at 5 PM, but the time schedule varies depending on registered number of teams.

Where is Generation Handball?
Generation Handball takes place in Viborg, Denmark, which is one of the oldest cities in Denmark. Sports, especially handball, is a huge draw, and there are both many big youth handball clubs and a strong professional senior team. The mayor of Viborg is Ulrik Wilbek who is former coach of the Danish national handball team.
Viborg was in 2019 nominated a UNESCO Creative City due to its big role in creating an educational and inspiring environment with regard to animation and visual creativity.

How and when do we register?
You register on the registration page. The registration deadline is 15 May, and the payment deadline is 1 June. It’s still possible to add more players after 15 May.

Visa application for Denmark
Generation Handball is pre-approved for digital invitation to foreign teams making the visa process smoother. We need the following information about the players of your foreign team to make an invitation letter: Full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue date, passport expiration date, place of issue, and e-mail address.
Visa application can be done up to six months prior to the festival, i.e. 29 January 2024. If your passport will expire within six months after Generation Handball, we encourage you to renew your passport.


TRANSPORTATION

How do we get to Generation Handball in Viborg, Denmark?
The closest airports are Billund (90 km.), Aalborg (90 km.), and Karup (28 km.). We can help you arrange a bus from either ferries (Hirtshals (147 km.) and Frederikshavn (143 km.)) or from any airport in the country including Copenhagen (330 km.) or Hamburg in Germany (360 km.).
Please, check out extra services on the registration page. The prices include a return trip, and you decide the time of pick-up yourselves.
You can also go by public train (www.dsb.dk) or Flixbus (www.flixbus.com). There’s only 900 metres between the station and the info desk.

Transportation during the festival
Everything is within walking distance. There is no need to arrange your own transportation during the festival.


ACCOMMODATION

What kind of accommodation can we choose?
We have different accommodation packages, and it’s possible to book linen, pillow, duvet etc. You may find the prices on the registration page.

Early arrival or later departure
You can arrive either on 27 July, 28 July, or 29 July 2024 and leave on either 3 or 4 August 2024. This allows for especially foreign handball clubs to get better airplane tickets. Extra nights are at an extra charge.

When will we know where we are going to be accommodated?
Let us know beforehand if you have specific wishes. Otherwise, we’ll inform you about your accommodation site once you arrive, and our staff will take you there to check you in.

Family
Generation Handball has its own camping site at the festival site with toilet and bathing facilities in an arena next to the area. Alternatively, we recommend family members to find accommodation either at hotels (check out special GH hotel prices on the registration page), bed & breakfasts, hostels, or (other) camping sites in or near the city of Viborg.

Laundry
Washing machines and dryers are available at the festival site. Washing cards can be purchased at the info desk. Asmildkloster accommodation site also offers washing machines.


MEALS

What meals do we get?
Teams that choose accommodation through Generation Handball get three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). The menu will be available on the meals’ page in July. We are happy to accommodate dietary considerations at an extra charge, if you inform us prior to the festival. Let us know at info@generation-handball.com in advance.

Where are the meals served?
All meals are served in the food hall at the festival site with a few exceptions as a couple of accommodation sites also offer breakfast.

Can we buy extra meals?
Anyone can purchase meal tickets at the info desk.


THE TOURNAMENT

Rules of the tournament
Please, read the rules of the tournament for information about the rules for both the general tournament and the beach tournament. This page also contains information about ball sizes, classes etc.

Match schedule
The match schedule will be available online in early July and can be found on our website and through the app. The matches begin on Tuesday at 8-9 AM. The teams are guaranteed a minimum of six matches during the week, and there’ll be at least one match per team per day.

Arenas
U-17 and U-20 play indoor, while U-11, U-13, and U-15 play outdoor (except for in the finals).

Beach handball
All teams can register for the beach handball tournament for free. The match schedule for the beach handball tournament will be ready at least one day in advance. The matches begin on Monday and ends on Saturday. The matches are played during the evenings on the festival site, and they will not interfere with the match schedule of the general tournament.

Outdoor shoes
Football boots are not allowed on the Stadium courts, but they are allowed on all other outdoor arenas.

Indoor training
Your team can book indoor court time in an arena at the festival site, if you arrive earlier (Saturday, Sunday, or Monday before the festival) or leave later (Saturday or Sunday at the end of the festival). Booking is done through ProCup and will be confirmed by e-mail.

Festival T-shirts
Buy Generation Handball T-shirts for your team in the Sportigan shop at the festival site. You can get your name and player number printed on your shirt. Read more on the registration page.