USOC formally certifies USA Team Handball

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors on Monday formally certified USA Team Handball as the National Governing Body (NGB) for team handball in the United States.   
 
"We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by the USOC and American handball community," said Dieter Esch, founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of USA Team Handball. "We are still in our initial phase of uniting the sport of handball here, reaching out internationally for sporting partnerships, identifying public and private means of support and elevating this great sport in this country.  This announcement gives us the green light to accelerate our development in 2010 and beyond." 
 
The USOC had granted "probationary" status to a group led by Esch on April 30, 2008, but withheld "full" recognition until its Board of Directors meeting Monday in San Francisco.

"USA Team Handball has demonstrated a willingness and desire to operate in a manner that is consistent with the NGBs that make up the Olympic Family," said USOC Chairman Larry Probst. "Now, moving forward, it is important that USA Team Handball and the USOC use this momentum to benefit the sport and begin to make significant advances in grassroots development and overall competitiveness internationally."

"Today is a great day for the sport of Team Handball throughout the world as the flame is officially reignited for the great sport of USA Team Handball in the United States," said Cindy Stinger, USOC Manager of the U.S. Olympians Association and a three-time Olympian in the sport of team handball. "USA Team Handball has a rich tradition that we are excited to help grow and support through this important recognition by the United States Olympic Committee.".

In order to gain full NGB status, USA Team Handball had to demonstrate financial independence and the ability to manage all aspects of sport including governance, domestic competition, international relations, high performance plan development and a broad-based grassroots platform. 
 
USA Team Handball is now one of 29 NGBs authorized by USOC to prepare American athletes for Olympic Summer Games competition.