Egypt 2021 Deputy Director: Egypt 2021 with no fans is a safer bet

The decision to have no fans at venues in the tournament was taken for everyone's safety in light of the COVID-19 spread, said Khaled Fathy, LOC Deputy Director of the 27th IHF Men's World Championship.

"Safety of the participants is of paramount importance," said Fathy.

The Supreme Organising Committee took the decision on Sunday, in a meeting that included Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly alongside the Minister of Youth & Sports Dr Ashraf Sobhy, IHF President Dr Hassan Mostafa, Hesham Nasr, the LOC Chairman & Head of the Egyptian Handball Federation and Hussein Labib, the LOC Director.

"The Egyptian authorities found that deciding to have no fans present at venues during the tournament was in everyone's best interests, amid the current circumstances surrounding COVID-19."

The supreme organising committee decided to that the tournament would go ahead with no fan attendance (click here).

The result of the meeting was the decision to announce that fans will not be in attendance, in ongoing precautionary measures to combat COVID-19.

Egypt 2021 is a historical tournament, featuring 32 teams for the first time ever as opposed to the 24 team tournament that took place before.

The 27th World Handball Championship will take place in four different halls; Cairo International Stadium Hall, the Administrative Capital Hall, the Dr Hassan Moustafa Indoor Hall and the Borg El Arab Stadium Hall.