Handball International Championships, 2007


The 2007 edition of the Handball International Championships was the VII European Championship, organized by the
International Ball game Confederation, and was held at the Belgian cities of Nivelles and Buizingen during September 21 and 23.
The playing countries were Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands and the Valencian Pilota Squad representing Spain.
Each own has its local variety: Belgian Balle pelote, Dutch Frisian handball, French Longue paume, Italian Pallone, and Valencian pilota.
Belgian players are professionals of their sport. There are also professional Valencian pilotaris, but in Escala i corda and Raspall, not in Llargues.
The varieties of the Handball sports derived from the old Jeu de paume that were played were International fronton, International game and Llargues.
The matches of International International fronton were played at the Turncentrum Start 65 of Buizingen, and the matches of International game and Llargues were played at the Parc de la Dodaine of Nivelles. Access to the matches was free.

International fronton

The International fronton was played by teams of 2 players, players were allowed to strike the ball with the bare hand or using a glove without reinforce. Matches consisted on 2 sets, with a third set in case of a tie.

Fronton Classification

International game

Due to time limitations, International game matches were played only one of the teams attained 6 games. In the classification, the winner team receives 3 points in case of victory 6-2 or better, otherwise winner gets 2 points and loser 1 point.

International game Classification

Llargues

Under the name of Llargues the original Belgian handball, the Balle pelote was played. Since its differences are mynimal the adaptation requires a slight elongation of the courtfield and a softer ball.
Due to time limitations, Llargues matches were played only one of the teams attained 6 games. In the classification, the winner team receives 3 points in case of victory 6-2 or better, otherwise winner gets 2 points and loser 1 point.

Llargues Classification

Champions

Best player

During the award ceremony the CIJB chose Dutch Johan van der Meulen as the Best player.

Absolute winner

The Absolute winner is the team who scored more points in the over-all classification according to this formula applied to the different varieties:
Since the Belgian and the Valencian Pilota Squad scored the same number of points, the next factor is the number of victories in all the varieties, but they both won the same number of matches, then another factor applied is the number of points acquired in every variety which resulted in a third draw
So, the CIJB, in a meeting previous to the award ceremony decided the Valencian Pilota Squad to be the Absolute Champion.

Squads

Belgian squad

Coach:
Physician:
Referees:
Players:
Coach:
Physician:
Referees:
Players:
Coach:
Referees:
Players:
Coach:
Physicians:
Referees:
Players:
Coach:
Physician:
Psychologists:
Referees:
Players:
All of them, except Pasqual II, are amateur players.
Also, the main amount of them come from the Llargues competitions, except of Pasqual II from the Valencian fronto, and Ferdi, Héctor and Nacho from the Galotxa.
6 of the 11 players were debutantes, and 5 of them younger than 25 years old.