12 Nations will compete in the 2012 Olympics in London. 6 places were awarded directly to the host, the reigning world champion and the 4 continental federations. 6 additional places were awarded via 3 IHF Olympic Qualification Tournaments
The 12 nations and their path for qualification
Norway: 2011 World Champion
Montenegro: Winner IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament #1
Spain: Winner, IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament #2
Russia: Winner, IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament #3
Denmark: Runner up, IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament #3
Croatia: Runner up, IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament #2
France: Runner up, IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament #1
Great Britain: Host
Sweden: European Champion
Brazil: Pan American Champion
South Korea: Asian Champion
Angola: African Champion
Draw
The 12 nations were drawn into two groups of 6 on May 30, 2012. Six performance rows were determined based on the order depicted above. One nation from each row was placed in either Group A or Group B. Rows 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 were determined by draw. Great Britain as the host was then allowed to choose its preferred group.
Row 1: Norway, Montenegro
Row 2: Spain, Russia
Row 3: Denmark, Croatia
Row 4: France, Great Britain
Row 5: Sweden, Brazil
Row 6: South Korea, Angola
Draw Results
Group A: Montenegro, Russia, Croatia, Great Britain, Brazil, Angola
Group B: Norway, Spain, Denmark, France, Sweden, South Korea
Qualification Details
DIRECTLY AWARDED (6 Teams)
Host: Great Britain
2011 World Champion: Norway
Europe: Sweden
Pan-America: Brazil
Africa: Angola
Asia: South Korea
AT LARGE QUALICATION (6 Teams)
6 additional places were awarded via 3 Olympic qualification tournaments that took place from 25-27 May, 2012. Each tournament was a round robin of 4 nations with the top 2 nations qualifying for the Olympics. The slots for the tournaments were awarded based on results at the World Championships and respective continental championships.
IHF Qualification Tournament #1
France (2nd at 2011 WC) Host
Montenegro (7th at 2011 WC)
Romania (Europe #2)
Japan (Asia #2)
Standings
1) Montenegro (3-0-0) 6 Points
2) France (2-0-1) 4 Points
3) Romania (1-0-2) 2 Points
4) Japan (0-0-3) 0 Points
IHF Qualification Tournament #2
Spain (3rd at 2011 WC) Host
Croatia (6th at 2011 WC)
Argentina (Pan America #2)
Netherlands (Europe #3)
Standings
1) Spain (2-0-1) 4 Points (+3 GD in head to head games vs Croatia and Netherlands)
2) Croatia (2-0-1) 4 Points (+0 GD in head to head games vs Spain and Netherlands)
3) Netherlands (2-0-1) 4 Points (-3 GD in head to head games vs Spain and Croatia)
4) Argentina (0-0-3) 0 Points
IHF Qualification Tournament #3
Denmark (4th at 2011 WC) Host
Russia (5th at 2011 WC)
Tunisia (Africa #2)
Dominican Republic (Pan America #3)
Standings
1) Russia (3-0-0) 6 Points
2) Denmark (2-0-1) 4 Points
3) Tunisia (1-0-2) 2 Points
4) Dominican Republic (0-0-3) 0 Points
2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (1 Team), Brazil, Dec 2011
Link to 2011 WC qualification Page: http://teamhandballnews.com/2011-wc-qual-women/
The World Champion automatically qualified for the 2012 Olympics. Teams placed 2nd through 7th advanced to Olympic Qualification Tournaments. If a team, however, recieved an automatic Olympic Bid as a Continental Representative (e.g., Norway) then the nations listed behind that nation each moved up one spot.
Final Ranking
1) Norway (Qualifed as World Champion- European Direct Qualification transferred to Sweden) (Europe earns 1st place continent)
2) France (IHF Qualification Tourney seeding: 1)
3) Spain (IHF Qualification Tourney seeding: 2)
4) Denmark (IHF Qualification Tourney seeding: 3)
5) Brazil (Qualified directly as Pan American Champion) (Pan America earns 2nd place continent)
6) Russia (IHF Qualification Tourney seeding: 4)
7) Croatia (IHF Qualification Tourney seeding: 5)
8 ) Angola (Qualified directly as African Champion) (Africa earns 3rd place continent)
9) Sweden (Qualified directly as European Champion)
10) Montenegro (IHF Qualification Tourney seeding: 6)
11) South Korea (Qualified directly as Asian Champion) (Asia earns 4th place continent)
12) Iceland
13) Romania
14) Japan
15) Netherlands
16) Côte d’Ivoire
17) Germany
18) Tunisia
19) Kazakhstan
20) Uruguay
21) China
22) Cuba
23) Argentina
24) Australia
EUROPEAN OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION (1 Team)
The 2010 European Championship was the qualifying event for Europe. 16 nations participated in the tournament that was co-hosted by Denmark and Norway from 7-19 December, 2010. Denmark (co-host) and Norway (co-host/defending champion) automatically qualified for the event. The remaining 14 slots were awarded through the following qualification system:
Phase 1: In September, 2009, Finland and Great Britain, the 2 lowest ranked teams played a home and away playoff to advance to Group Play.
Result: Great Britain – Finland 41-37
http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/women/2010/round/3/Pre-Qualification
Phase 2: 28 teams were drawn into 7 groups of 4.
Draw Results: http://www.eurohandball.com/article/012211/Women/’s+EHF+EURO+2010+Qualification
Group 1: Romania, Ukraine, Portugal, Switzerland
Group 2: Hungary, Sweden, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan
Group 3: France, Austria, Iceland, Great Britain
Group 4: Germany, Belarus, Slovenia, Italy
Group 5: Spain, Serbia, Turkey, Greece
Group 6: Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Montenegro
Group 7: Croatia, Macedonia, Netherlands, Lithuania
These matches were played throughout the 2009-2010 season. 2 teams from each pool advanced to the final tournament in Denmark/Norway.
Phase 2 Results: http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/women/2010/round/2/Qualification
Phase 3: European Championships: 7-19 December, Denmark/Norway (16 nations participating)
Co-Host: Denmark
Co-Host/Defending Champion: Norway
Phase 2 Group winners and runner ups: Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Sweden, France, Iceland, Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Serbia, Russia, Montegro, Croatia and Netherlands
Norway, the winner of this tournament has qualified for the 2012 Olympics. However, if Norway should win the 2011 World Championships, then the 2nd place nation from this event will qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
Final Ranking
1) Norway (Directly Qualified as World Champion)
2) Sweden (Directly Qualified as European Representative)
3) Romania (Qualified for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament as Europe #2)
4) Denmark (Qualifed for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament as WC #4)
5) France (Qualifed for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament as WC #2)
6) Montenegro (Qualified for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament as WC #6)
7-8) Russia (Qualifed for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament as WC #5)
7-8 ) Netherlands (Qualified for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament as Europe #3)
9-10) Croatia, Hungary
11-12) Spain, Ukraine
13-16) Serbia, Iceland, Germany, Slovenia
PAN AMERICAN OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION (1 Team)
The 2011 Pan American (PANAM) Games Handball competition served as the qualification event for the Pan American region. 8 nations participated and the games in Guadalajara, Mexico from 13-30 October, 2011. Mexico as host received an automatic bid. The 7 other participants were determined through regional qualification events. 3 bids were awarded to South America, 2 bids for Central America/Caribbean and 1 to North America. An additional bid was awarded at a 2nd chance tournament between the 4th place South America finisher, 3rd and 4th place Central America/Caribbean finishers and the loser of the North America playoff.
South American Games (Medellin, Colombia) 19-30 March, 2010: Top 3 teams advanced to PANAM Games
A simple round was played by the 6 participants
Final Ranking
1) Argentina 5-0-0
2) Brazil 4-0-1
3) Uruguay 3-0-2
4) Chile 2-0-3 (qualifies for 2nd chance tournament)
5) Paraguay 1-0-4
6) Colombia 0-0-5
Central American and Caribbean Games (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) 18-25 July, 2010: Top 2 teams advanced to PANAM Games
Round Robin
1) Dominican Republic 5-0-0
2) Mexico 4-0-1
3) Puerto Rico 3-0-3
4) Costa Rica 2-0-3
5) El Salvador 1-0-4
6) Guatemala 0-0-5
Semifinals
Dominican Republic – Costa Rica 36-10
Puerto Rico – Mexico 24-21
Finals
Dominican Republic – Puerto Rico 27-19
Mexico – Costa Rica 41-16
Full Results: http://handball.mforos.com/1165205/9764462-mayaguez-2010-femenino-resultados/
Final Ranking
1) Dominican Republic
2) Puerto Rico
3) Mexico (already qualified for PANAM Games as host)
4) Costa Rica (qualifies for 2nd chance tournament)
5) El Salvador (qualifies for 2nd chance tournament)
6) Guatemala
North American Qualification: Canada and the U.S. played a 2 game playoff
21 Dec 10 at Lake Placid, NY Canada – USA 23-18
23 Dec 10 at Montreal USA – Canada 26-21
Total aggregate goal differential: 0 goals
Total away goals scored: USA- 26; Canada- 23;
USA wins series based on greater away goals. Canada advances to the 2nd chance tournament
First Leg Summary: http://usateamhandball.org/news/2010/12/22/1st-leg-usa-men-win-usa-women-fall/40196?ngb_id=42
Second Leg Summary: http://usateamhandball.org/news/2010/12/23/triumph-and-heartbreak/40241?ngb_id=42
(Note: Greenland is not recognized by the IOC or the Pan American Sports Organization and is not eligible for Olympic competition or the PANAM Games.)
2nd Chance Tournament (TBD Location) Spring 2011: 1 Team advances to PANAM Games
Participants: Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Canada (Note: This tournament was never contested, but Chile was chosen at the PANAM Games participant)
PANAM Games (Guadalajara, Mexico) 13-30 October, 2011: 8 Teams participated and 1 Team advances to the Olympic Games. The 2nd place and 3rd place teams qualified for at large qualification tournaments.
Group A
1) Argentina 3-0-0 6 Points +27 GD
2) Mexico (2-0-1) 4 Points -8
3) Puerto Rico 1-0-2 2 Points -8
4) Chile 0-0-3 0 Points -11
Group B
1) Brazil 3-0-0 6 Points +82
2) Dominican Republic 1-1-1 3 Points -7
3) Uruguay 1-1-1 3 Points -16
4) USA 0-0-3 0 Points -59
Semifinals
Brazil – Mexico 43-12
Argentina – Dominican Republic 19-18
Finals
Dominican Republic – Mexico 33-31
Brazil – Argentina 33-15
Final Ranking
1) Brazil
2) Argentina (Qualified for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament)
3) Dominican Republic (Qualified for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament)
4) Mexico
5) Chile
6) Puerto Rico
7) Uruguay
8 ) USA
AFRICAN OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION (1 Team)
The African automatic bid was awarded to the winner of the 20th African Nations Championships,10-21 January, 2012 in Rabat, Morroco. African Federation Regulations calls for 8 Women’s Teams to participate. 1 Bid is awarded to the host, 4 bids to the top four finishers from the previous championships and 3 remaining bids to the top ranked African Nations based on recent competition results.
African Federation Ranking: http://www.cahbonline.info/a_telecharger/Classement_federation2011.pdf
Official Draw: http://www.cahbonline.info/index2_eng.php?id=126
Group A
1) Angola 4-0-0 8 Points
2) Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-2-1 4 Points
3) Cameroon 2-0-2 4 Points
4) Cote d’Ivoire 1-1-2 3 Points
5) Egypt 0-1-3 1 Points
Group B
1) Tunisia 4-0-0 8 Points
2) Algeria 3-0-1 6 Points
3) Congo 2-0-2 4 Points
4) Senegal 1-0-3 2 Points
5) Morocco 0-0-4 0 Points
Quarter Finals
Congo – Democratic Republic of the Congo 19-29
Angola – Senegal 41-20
Cameroon – Algeria 22-23
Tunisia – Cote d’Ivoire 24-19
Semifinals
Angola – Democratic Republic of the Congo 39-19
Algeria – Tunisia 24-27
Finals
Angola – Tunisia 26-24
Final Ranking
1) Angola (Directly qualifies for the Olympics)
2) Tunisia (Qualified for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament)
3) Democratic Republic of the Congo
4) Algeria
5) Cameroon
6) Congo
7) Cote d’Ivoire
8 ) Senegal
9) Egypt
10) Morocco
ASIAN OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION (1 Team)
Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament (Changzhou, China). 12-21 October, 2011
The winner of the tournament automatically qualified for the Olympic Games. The 2nd place team qualified for at large qualification tournaments. 6 nations participated and a full round robin slate of games were played.
Match Results
China-Tajikistan 41 – 6
Kazakhstan – Japan 26 – 38
South Korea – North Korea 44 – 29
Kazakhstan – North Korea 22 – 22
South Korea – Tajikistan 45 – 11
China – Japan 21 – 26
Tajikistan – Kazakhstan 9 – 27
Japan – North Korea 30 – 23
South Korea – China 31 – 19
Kazakhstan – South Korea 23 – 36
Japan – Tajikistan 44 – 12
North Korea – China 26 – 28
Tajikistan – North Korea 10 – 33
Japan – South Korea 22 – 27
China-Kazakhstan 22 – 21
Final Standings/Ranking
1) South Korea 5-0-0 10 Pts (Qualifies for Olympics)
2) Japan 4-0-1 8 Pts (Qualified for an IHF Olympic Qualification Tournament)
3) China 3-0-2 6 Pts
4) North Korea 1-1-3 3 Pts -1 GD
5) Kazakhstan 1-1-3 3 Pts -8 GD
6) Turkmenistan 0-0-0 0 Pts
OCEANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION
Oceania does not have an automatic Qualification spot. If the Oceania representative at the 2011 World Championship had placed from 8th to 12th, Oceania would have earned a spot for IHF Qualification Tournament #3.
For reference, the 2008 Olympic Qualification can be reviewed here: http://teamhandballnews.com/2008-olympic-qualification-women/