Team Handball Team Handball is one of the most popular sports Special Olympics offers. It is played on a court slightly larger than the size of a basketball court and is often described as water polo on dry land. Special Olympics athletes demonstrate agility, flexibility, quickness, body control and strength. Goirgos Xydias of Special Olympics Hellas (Greece) is surrounded by Special Olympics Germany's Mario Kielgass (left) and Norbert Mauska (right) in Special Olympics team handball competition at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. [Photo by Alan Betson, IRELAND OUT] Special Olympics Team Handball offers individual skills competition to allow athletes to train and compete in basic team handball skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team competition. These skills include target pass, 10-meter dribble and shoot. Special Olympics athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® Team Handball Competition. Special Olympics Unified Sports is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender. Table Handball Facts Team Handball was introduced at the 1991 Special Olympics World Summer Games. 145 athletes from 14 Programs competed in team handball at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. As of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report, 29,008 Special Olympics athletes compete in team handball. Team Handball Events Team Competition 5-A-Side Team Handball Unified Sports Team Competition The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels: Individual Skills Competition Related Links International Handball Federation (IHF)