Granollers, axis of a World Cup with political and economic background

A different, atypical World Cup begins, one of those that make an epoch. A World Cup marked by the pandemic and also by political upheaval. For the first time in history Spain hosts the Women’s Handball World Cup, a milestone that in its construction has made it clear that yes, politics and sport end up intertwining.

The candidacy was born in a Granollers Cup, the quintessential event in world handball. A talk between Josep Mayoral, Mayor of the Catalan city and Francisco V. Blázquez, president of the RFEBM, ended up with a perfect candidacy. Because the IHF had little doubt that the tournament had to be played in Spain. Although at that time and with the venues in hand, the World Cup seemed rather Catalan. Granollers, Tarragona, Lleida, Badalona and Barcelona they were leading a cartel in which he was also Castellón. But the candidacy was presented in 2016, it was granted in 2017 and it is not executed until this week (from December 1 to 19). And a lot has happened since then.

Question of money

“As soon as they gave us the World Cup we started working with the different municipalities and everything seemed quite closed but the 2019 elections changed everything. Lleida and Tarragona (who went from PSC to ERC) dropped out of the project & rdquor ;, explains to EL PERIÓDICO, Álvaro Ferrer, sports councilor of the Granollers Town Hall, insisting that he does not believe that the process for independence, which stirred the political climate during the first years of the candidacy, have something to do with it. He claims he does not know the reason.

The Tarragona City Council explains it. It’s all about money. “Only hosting the preliminary phase involved a cost of 500,000 euros in canon, with an extra 100,000 euros if the Spanish team played. In addition, we had to give up the facilities for 20 days. We bet on sport but as long as it is sustainable for the city. The process has nothing to do with the decision & rdquor ;.

And if the political movements were not enough, the pandemic arrived, which has been the last stone in the way. From the Federation they worked for the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona to host the final phase, but it has ended up being discarded by health protocol.

From Barcelona to Granollers

“Playing in Barcelona, ​​at the Olympic stadium, would have been perfect, but mobilizing the delegations and the media to Barcelona is an extra risk, so the safest decision has been to play the final phase at Granollers & rdquor; , Explain Jaume Fort, President of the Catalan Handball Federation and President of the Executive Committee, for whom hosting an event like this is “a real pride”. It is for him and for the organizers, who have lived through four intense years of changes and preparations.

From six venues it has gone to four: Torrevieja, Llíria, Castellón and Granollers. And from a ‘almost Catalan’ World Cup to another with a Valencian accent. “The commitment of the Valencian Community to handball is being spectacular, they attract sponsors and are very involved with the World Cup and grassroots handball & rdquor ;, highlights Fort, reiterating that” the final balance is still enrollment for Catalan handball because Granollers will host until 38 games, more than any other venue, and has ensured they have the eight best teams on the continent & rdquor ;.

Spread the cake

Among them, Fort hopes that there will be Spain, which will start the competition (Wednesday, 8:30 pm, Teledeporte) against Argentina, in Torrevieja. The preliminary phase of Warriors The Torrevieja Sports Palace will be played in its entirety, a totally strategic decision.

“You have to share the cake and make sure that all the venues have quality equipment. In Granollers we are to distribute and we wait for them from rooms & rdquor ;, says Álvaro. Fort, elaborates: “The decision for Spain to play in Torrevieja is given, but what is clear is that attendance must be favored. Hence, it has been estimated that Spain plays there and France, due to their proximity, does so in Granollers & rdquor ;. Therefore, from the beginning, it was decided that the Warriors They will start their way to the throne from the Valencian Community. The decision does not take away the prominence of Granollers, which is going to become the second city in history after Munich to host an Olympic Games, a men’s World Cup and a women’s handball.

Empower women

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And that is precisely what he is going to this World Cup for, to make history and not think about venues or controversies. Because if all the actors agree on something, it is that the tournament is about them. The players, but above all, the women. “The World Cup is the perfect synergy because we have been working for a long time to empower women and end inequalities in a transversal way & rdquor ;, explain from the Granollers City Council. The FCH embraces the idea: “We want to take advantage of the momentum World Cup, which serves to have more players, more coaches, more managers and more referees. In short, that more and more women enjoy sport & rdquor ;.

So it will be because with the game underway there is no controversy that is worth. From now on, the protagonists carry a ball in hand and are willing to ensure the show.