Füchse Berlin, Orlen Wisla Plock and Montpellier MAHB
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Dear Handball Friends, Welcome to the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Since September 2011, 120 games of the Group Phase have been played, with many games going down to the last seconds to decide who would qualify through to this, the knock-out stage. It is without doubt that all the teams here are here on merit and now find themselves sitting at the top table of European men’s club handball. Congratulations to the coaches, players, club staff and fans of FC Barcelona Intersport, Atletico Madrid, HSV Hamburg, THW Kiel, RK Osiguranje Zagreb, MKB Veszprem, RK Cimos Koper, AG Kobenhavn, IK Sävehof, Vive Targi Kielce, Metalurg Skopje, Reale Ademar Leon, Kadetten Schaffhausen, Füchse Berlin, Orlen Wisla Plock and Montpellier MAHB. The teams here at this stage are now only six games away from being crowned ‘Kings of Europe’ and the wide spread of European representation – 11 different countries – is the most ever since the new competition format of the Last 16 was introduced. Extra-special congratulations must go to Sweden and FYR Macedonia who both have club teams at this stage for this first time, further underlining and highlighting the European Handball Federation (EHF) commitment to developing and spreading the game across all four corners of Europe. Another example of the EHF expanding and developing can be seen by the VELUX Group – title sponsors of the VELUX EHF Champions League – renewing their deal with us until 2016, less than half way through the original deal. This deal ensures the continued growth of the league and is further evidence that the competition goes from strength-to-strength. In fact, the draw for the Last 16 took place at the VELUX Group corporate headquarters in Horsholm, Denmark and live online for those across the world. The draw has ensured some fantastic match-ups ahead such as the all-German tie between Hamburg and Berlin, plus the near-neighbours of Sävehof and Kobenhavn facing each other. Whoever qualifies from the Last 16 deserves their place in the Quarter-Finals in April and lovers of the game the world over, as well as those of us lucky enough to be inside the arenas watching the games in person, can be sure of seeing some fine examples of the beautiful sport we all love – handball. The VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne, Germany on the weekend of 26 and 27 May 2012 is within sight now, but only four teams can qualify for this spectacular handball event and the Last 16 is yet another test for those teams who are targeting the coveted trophy. I hope you enjoy watching some of the world’s very best club handball! Tor Lian, EHF President EHF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT Dear Media Representative, The teams are now within touching distance of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 which takes place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May 2012 at the LANXESS arena, Cologne, Germany. Many media representatives from across Europe have attended matches this season and the coverage of the VELUX EHF Champions League is going from strength-to-strength with more territories reporting on, and showing live, the very best club handball in the world. The EHF Media and Communications Department are honoured to have you cover our games and are at your disposal at all times. If you should have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us on the details below. Regards, JJ Rowland Andrew McSteen Head of EHF Media and Communications. EHF Media Relations [email protected] [email protected] + 43 (0) 699 171 422 06 +43 (0) 681 207 32013 Official name of the VELUX EHF Champions League The official name of the competition is: VELUX EHF Champions League. The full name of the competition should always be used. VELUX and the three letter abbreviation for the European Handball Federation should always be displayed in capital letters before the name of the competition. Please note: If the season is required, it has to be positioned after “Champions League” e.g. VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12. The wording “Champions League” should always be written with a capital letter at the beginning of each word, i.e. Champions League. The remaining letters should be in lower case. The word Champions does not have an apostrophe after the ‘s’. The VELUX EHF FINAL4 Countdown The clock is ticking: the threshold of 100 days to go until the throw-off of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 has already come and gone. Already more than 17,000 fans have booked their seats for the 2011/12 VELUX EHF Champions League season highlight on 26 and 27 May in the LANXESS arena, Cologne. 2000 further tickets are reserved for the four participating teams. The remaining tickets are available via the ticket hotline +49 221 280 288 and at www.ehfFINAL4.com. In addition to peak sporting performances, ticket holders can also look forward to other highlights during the event. A notable coup was landed in terms of entertainment as the legendary Swedish rock band EUROPE will be rocking the VELUX EHF FINAL4. The performance from them will be one of the highlights of a weekend of sporting excellence. Their top-selling single ‘The Final Countdown’ forms part of almost every international sports event. Fans can look forward to hearing the band and their hits before the final, during the winners’ ceremony as well as during the official Players’ Night on Sunday. “We are very enthusiastic about bringing EUROPE live to the LANXESS arena. Our aim is to rock the crowd and to present the world with a spectacular mix of entertainment and top-class handball,” said Peter Vargo, Managing Director of EHF Marketing GmbH. Charity partner Deutsche Krebshilfe EHF Marketing GmbH has also announced a new partnership with Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Help), which is to be the new charity partner of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. The partnership will see the organisation of a VELUX EHF FINAL4 Charity Golf Tournament – powered by adidas - on Friday 25 May 2012 in Cologne. Keen golfers will be able to buy tickets for the chance to play with Stefan Lövgren, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Ambassador, and many more celebrities. EHFM expects to donate around €30,000 to Deutsche Krebshilfe and the fight against cancer. "Sports events such as the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with nearly 40,000 enthusiastic visitors over a weekend give Deutsche Krebshilfe the chance to reach a young audience with our prevention message. In addition, proceeds from a share of ticket sales, charity auction and golf tournament will help us to improve cancer care,” said Gerd Nettekoven, General Manager of Deutsche Krebshilfe. LANXESS arena – at the centre of European Handball With the decision that the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will remain in Cologne until at least 2014, the foundation stone has been laid for the further development of the event. And for this, the LANXESS arena provides the best infrastructure and facilities. The engagement of a top international act such as EUROPE is a sign too of the direction the EHF’s flagship club event is taking. “The future-oriented partnership up until 2014 allows us, together with the European Handball Federation, to develop the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to new heights. The aim for the next three years is to set new standards in indoor sports globally. The LANXESS arena is at the centre of European handball,” said Stefan Löcher, CEO of ARENA Management GmbH. About the VELUX EHF FINAL4 The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the culmination of the European club handball season. The two-day event sees four matches in one venue to decide the winners of the VELUX EHF Champions League title. Introduced in the 2009/10 season and to be played until at least 2014 in the LANXESS arena, Cologne, the decision to create a new format for the final phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League was seen as crucial for the growth of handball across Europe. The aim was to create a flagship event, one that could compete on the international sports market and make the Europe’s leading club competition even more attractive to fans, partners and sponsors. The success of the first two editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 showed that this new format was the right strategy. It has set new standards in organisation and entertainment: it is not just four games played over two days but a true entertainment event. The engagement of a top international act such as EUROPE is a sign too of the direction the event is taking. Almost 20,000 people from 30 countries will travel to Cologne in May 2012 for the third edition of the event. In 2011, tickets were sold out weeks before the four participating teams were known, and the total number of 19,750 spectators was a new record in European club competitions. This year, the organisers are facing even an increase in ticket sales. Full information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com. VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media Accreditation from 1 March 2012 Media representatives will be able to apply for a media accreditation for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 event from 1 March 2012 via an online form in the press/media section at www.ehfFINAL4.com. Deadline for applications is Friday 4 May 2012. Contacts Media Enquiries JJ Rowland Head of Media and Communications European Handball Federation Phone: +43 1 80 1 51 / 167 Email: [email protected] Event Organisation David Szlezak VELUX EHF FINAL4 Manager EHF Marketing GmbH Phone: +43 1 801 51 / 218 Email: [email protected] 2011/12 Men's European Cup EHF Champions League Group Phase Group A matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 ESP FC Barcelona Intersport 10 9 0 1 336:245 91 18 2 CRO Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb 10 8 0 2 289:255 34 16 3 SWE IK Sävehof 10 5 0 5 291:300 -9 10 4 SUI Kadetten Schaffhausen 10 4 0 6 309:283 26 8 5 FRA Chambery Savoie HB 10 4 0 6 276:270 6 8 6 BIH HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo 10 0 0 10 195:343 -148 0 MatchID: 201211020102- 023 CRO Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs.