With apologies for the ‘Bears in woods defecation scenario’-style headline, it was a bad day in sub-editor city…
In Britain, there are basically three team sports that matter: football, cricket and rugby union. In a list of the country’s top five team sports (rated according to their popularity) a distant fourth would probably come rugby league, with – we guess – hockey placing fifth.
A few years ago Britain went curling-crazy for a week or two when an Olympic gold was up for grabs, but all other team sports (so discounting cycling, golf, tennis etc.) usually get a ‘minority’ label and barely ever merit a mention.
Basketball, netball, water polo, polo, ice hockey, volleyball and so on fit into this minority category.
There then comes a category for sports that most people in the UK barely know exist.
Like handball.
Handball is, at first glance, netball with goals instead of nets.
At second glance it is the most popular sport in Continental Europe with the exception of football and – in some places – basketball and ice hockey. It is also probably the only team sport in the world in which the female version is as popular – if not more so – than its male equivalent.
Girls handball, we have discovered, is especially big in Romania. We think we are right in stating that it is the second most popular sport in the country. (We feel sure that readers will comment below if we are wrong in our assumptions…)
And right now, girls handball is the talk of Romania.
Why? Because the country’s top team, CS Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea (pictured below), has reached the final of the European Champions League. Their opponents are Viborg of Denmark.
(Yes, female handball has a Champions League).
The final will be played over two legs: the first leg is in Denmark on May 8th, the return taking place a week later at Sala Polivalenta in Bucharest. Kick-off (or the handball equivalent) is at 8:45pm.
Tickets go on sale at the Sala Polivalenta box office at 9am on May 7th.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
On the subject of sports, could you provide any links to websites where I might be able to sign up for something like netball, handball or another team sport in Bucharest.
Thanks.
You got us with this one.
Personally I never heard of amateur tournaments of netball or handball in Bucharest. The best that you can get is a second-division team to train with and maybe even play some official games, but that is not amateur level.
The only form of somewhat organized amateur tournaments as far as team sports are concerned – is the “get your friends and I’ll get mine and we all rent a mini football field” form.
You could try some of the netball clubs in Bucharest http://www.frvolei.ro/pagini/10_cluburi/bucuresti.htm but since you’re not a kid, I doubt that you can get more than some training sessions, and that if you bribe the coach…
Parmalat is right: there is no tradition of amateur sport in Romania. Either you are playing for Steaua Bucharest or you are not playing. When I came here I wanted to find a Sunday league football team… no such thing. There are of course pick-up games between friends, but nothing organised. I think it is the same for most sports, alas.
fit birds! boom boom
Yes I meant number of spectators, not those who play. Can’t say I have ever really noticed a particular interest in basketball in Romania, but then I live a sheltered life.
In that case, no idea. I’ve never heard any of my friends/acquaintances say they’re going to see a volleyball, basketball OR handball game. I know a few who go to rugby games but that’s about it.
Depends what you mean by popular: number of watchers or players?
Watchers, I have no idea. As for number of players, I would argue for volleyball as no. 2 for a simple reason: most kids and schools have or can easily acquire a volleyball (or just use a football). Handballs (balls for handball?) are much rarer, and probably more expensive too, hence most schools won’t have them.
(And basketball would be no. 3.)