Handball: France's men make history
France have written themselves into the history books after becoming the first country to retain the Olympic title in men's handball following a nervy one-goal victory in the final against Sweden.
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Full ScheduleLast Event Completed: Aug. 9, 2008, 2 a.m.Handball - Female - Summer Olympics Grp. A, France v Angola
France have written themselves into the history books after becoming the first country to retain the Olympic title in men's handball following a nervy one-goal victory in the final against Sweden.
Olympic champions Norway defended their crown by beating debutants Montenegro 26-23 to the women's handball gold.
France remain on course to become the first team to ever defend their Olympic title in the men's handball competition after a comfortable semi-final victory over Croatia.
Olympic champions Norway beat South Korea 31-25 in the first women's handball semi-final to continue their dominance of the sport.
Holders France beat Spain with a last-gasp goal for a 23-22 victory as Hungary pipped Iceland with a thrilling 34-33 extra-time win in the men's handball quarter-finals on Wednesday.
When Britain's male handball team face France this evening, four of them will be competing in a sport that they had never heard of when London was announced as the host city.
As the reigning world and Olympic champions, the French men's handball team are the team to beat at the London games, while in the women's tournament, it is all-conquering Norway who start as favourites.
Find out more about handball at the Olympics.
New Irish Olympic Handball Association high performance advisor Eddie O'Sullivan has indicated that his new role with the IOHA will be one of guidance as he seeks to put in place a structure which will move Ireland from number 41 in Europe to nearer the 30 mark.
| Country | Total | |||
| USA | 46 | 28 | 29 | 103 |
| China | 38 | 28 | 23 | 89 |
| Great Britain | 29 | 17 | 19 | 65 |
| Russia | 25 | 25 | 32 | 82 |
| South Korea | 13 | 8 | 7 | 28 |
| Ireland | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
