By Duncan Mackay

Euro 2014 handball logNovember 4 - Denmark today announced the four cities that will host matches during the 2014 men's European Handball Championships. 


The games will be staged in Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen and Herning during January 12 to 26.

All the cities are all within a range of two hours travel distance and still representing the major regions of the country, Danish officials said.

The host cities were announced today at the match between Denmark and Argentina.

Denmark was chosen to host the event in September 2010 by the European Handball Federation (EHF) ahead of a rival joint bid from Croatia and Hungary.

A total of 16 teams will take part in the tournament.

"With the four host cities and Sport Event Denmark, we will set up an impressive celebration of handball in 2014," said Per Bertelsen, President of the Danish Handball Federation.

"We look forward to providing home ground to our national team and the Danish spectators at the Men's EHF Euro 2014 and also to inviting the 16 participating nations into the Danish handball culture.

"Similarly, we are also planning to run seminars and workshops towards the Championships also for nations that do not qualify for the event."

Denmark will be defending their title in 2014, having beaten hosts Serbia 21-19 in the final in Belgrade earlier this year.

It was their second title in three Championships having also won in Norway in 2008.

The Gigantium in Aalborg and Broendby Hallen in Copenhagen will host the preliminary rounds.

The NRGi Arena in Aarhus will host matches in both the preliminary and main rounds while the Jyske Bank Boxen, with a capacity of 14,000, in Herning will be the venue for the final, as well as preliminary and main round matches.

Jyske Bank BoxenThe Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning will be the venue for the final of the men's 2014 European Handball Championships

"The men's EHF Euro 2014 is a great event for Denmark," said Lars Lundov, the chief executive of Sport Event Denmark.

"Denmark hasn't staged any finals in men's handball for more than 30 years.

"Denmark has a strong handball culture and has over the years become a strong event partner of various major international sports events.

"Based on the event experiences the Danish Handball Federation, the four host cities and Sport Event Denmark will display the unique Danish handball culture and make an impressive event set-up spiced up with a wide range of side events.

"We hope to do this so well that Denmark can become the host of men's World Championships in near future."

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