All you need to know about Partille Cup

Partille Cup’s back after having been cancelled twice due to the pandemic. - It’s, above all, nice to get going again. I’ve been waiting for a long, long time, says Fredrik Andersson, General Secretary of Partille Cup.

The pandemic set a stop for two editions of Partille Cup, but now it’s returning with full force. The locals, supporters from around the world and the participants will, for the 51:st edition of the tournament, yet again fill Gothenburg with a handball frenzy.

– I kind of feel like a child again, there’s an enormous joy to it, says Fredrik Andersson.

The Faroe Islands surprised everyone during the last Partille Cup by winning the prestigious European Cup. The star of the team, Elias Ellefsen a Skipagötu, shone the brightest. Today he plays for Sävehof and has, since then, won Sweden’s highest division – twice. This has had an unexpected effect on the number of teams from Faroe Islands participating in the tournament. There are almost three times as many as in 2018.

– At the last European Open-final they set up a huge screen at the square in the middle of the capital and there were thousands watching the finale from Scandinavium. The way they played was new and ingenious. They won in a spectacular manner, and many have surely been motivated by their countryman’s success, says Andersson.

Most of the games will be played on two areas, Heden and Kviberg. European Open on the other hand will be played in Valhalla Sporthall except for the final that will be played in Scandinavium. That the games will be played in fewer locations than last time is something that Andersson hopes will benefit the spectators.

– It makes it easier for the spectators, and for us, now that we can put more effort in fewer areas, says Andersson.

Date: 4-9 July.
Teams: 1 071.
Participants: 18 300.
Nations represented: 30.

Competing national teams in European Open Championship W16: 17 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland).

Age groups: 8-21 years.
Average age: 15 years
.
Most participants: Girls 15 (106 teams).
Teams, boys: 498 (46,5%).
Teams, girls: 573 (53,5%)
.
Domestic teams: 499 (46,5%).
Non-Swedish teams: 572 (53,5%).
Amount of matches: 3 750.
Matches that will be live streamed: 2 830.
Referees: 250.
Officials in total: 1 300.

Handball courts (total): 56.
Heden: 26.
Kviberg: 15.
Prioritet Serneke Arena: 6.
Valhalla: 6.
Valhalla Sporthall (European Open): 2.
Scandinavium (European Open): 1.