title: Handball International Championships
text: # Handball International Championships
  
  The Handball International Championships are yearly held competitions where many countries and regions play the handball sports derived from the Jeu de paume.
  
  It is organized by the International Ball game Confederation, and there are three official varieties (International fronton, International game, and Llargues), but local modalities are also played.
  
  ## Statistics
  
  ### 2008
  
  * Competition
  * VI Handball World Championship
  * Imbabura (Ecuador)
  * ECU
  
  ### 2007
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | VII European Championship |
  | Nivelles (Belgium) |
  | BEL, FRA, ITA, NLD, VLC |
  | International fronton | France | Belgium |
  | International game | Valencian Sel. | Netherlands |
  | Llargues | Belgium | Valencian Sel. |
  | Absolute champion | Valencian Sel. |
  
  ### 2006
  
  | Competition | Winner |
  | - | - |
  | VI World Chaza Handball Championship |
  | Colombia |
  | | Not played |
  
  ### 2005
  
  | Competition | Winner |
  | - | - |
  | VII European Championship |
  | Belgium |
  | | Not played |
  
  ### 2004
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | V Pallapugno World Championship |
  | Imperia (Italy) |
  | ARG, BEL, COL, ECU, VLC, FRA, ITA, MEX, NLD, URY |
  | International fronton | Mexico | Argentina |
  | International game | Italy | Belgium |
  | Llargues | Valencian Sel. | Italy |
  | Pallapugno | Italy | Ecuador |
  | Absolute Champion | Italy |
  
  ### 2003
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | VI European Jeu de Paume Championship |
  | France |
  | FRA, VLC, ? |
  | International fronton | Valencian Sel. | ? |
  | International game | Valencian Sel. | ? |
  | Llargues | ? | Valencian Sel. |
  
  ### 2002
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | IV World Handball Championship |
  | Paraná (Argentina) |
  | Argentina, VLC, NLD, ? |
  | International fronton | Valencian Sel. | Argentina |
  | International game | Valencian Sel. | Netherlands |
  | Llargues | Valencian Sel. | Netherlands |
  
  ### 2001
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | V European Championship |
  | Netherlands |
  | VLC, ITA, NLD |
  | International fronton | Valencian Sel. | Italy |
  | International game | Valencian Sel. | Netherlands |
  | Llargues | Netherlands | Valencian Sel. |
  
  ### 2000
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | III Llargues World Championship |
  | València (Spain) |
  | ARG, BEL, COL, ECU, VLC, FRA, ITA, MEX, NLD, URY |
  | Llargues | Valencian Sel. | Netherlands |
  
  ### 1999
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | IV European Championship |
  | Imperia (Italy) |
  | VLC, FRA, ITA, NLD |
  | International game | Italy | ? |
  | Llargues | Valencian Sel. | Netherlands |
  
  ### 1998
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | II World Llargues Championship |
  | Maubeuge (France) |
  | BEL, COL, ECU, VLC, FRA, ITA, NLD |
  | Llargues | Valencian Sel. | France |
  
  ### 1997
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | III European Championship |
  | Franeker (Netherlands) |
  | BEL, VLC, FRA, ITA, NLD |
  | ? | Netherlands | France |
  
  ### 1996
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | I World Llargues Championship |
  | València (Spain) |
  | ARG, COL, VLC, FRA, ITA, MEX, NLD |
  | Llargues | Valencian Sel. | Netherlands |
  
  ### 1995
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | II European Championship |
  | Italy |
  | BEL, FRA, ITA, NLD |
  
  ### 1994
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | I European Championship |
  | Valenciennes (France) |
  | BEL, VLC, FRA, ITA, NLD |
  | Ballpelote | Belgium | Valencian Sel. |
  | International game | France | Valencian Sel. |
  
  ### 1993
  
  | Competition | Winner | Runner-up |
  | - | - | - |
  | Five Nations Championship |
  | València (Spain) |
  | BEL, VLC, FRA, ITA, NLD |
  | Llargues | Valencian Sel. | Belgium |
  
  ## Relevant facts of the Handball International Championships
  
  * The Valencian players represent Spain, but they show the Senyera and wear suits under the name Valencian Pilota Squad.
  * 1994: Belgian Handball Federation quits from the International Confederation and the country is represented by Second division players.
  * 1995: The Valencian Squad doesn't take part due to an argument with the CIJB because of the kind of ball Italy proposed to play with.
  * 1996: The Belgian Federation threats with fining the First division players who wanted to take part.
  * 2004: The Belgian Federation allows First division players to take part.
  * 2005: The European Championship should be played on Belgium, but the CIJB decides to let place to Colombia to host in January 2006 the World Championship.
  * 2006: The World Championship on Colombia is not played, first due to security of the players and later due to the eruption of the Galeras volcano.
  
  ## Best players
  
  Every year the most relevant players are awarded as the Best player:
  
  * 1993: Sarasol I (Genovés, Valencia)
  * 1998: Grau (València)
  * 1999: Grau (València)
  * 2002: Sarasol II (Genovés, Valencia)
  * 2004: Silverio Deiby Mena, Colombia
  * 2007: Johan van der Meulen, Netherlands
  