He is due to  take up his position in January 2010.

 

Gavrilovic will oversee all aspects of the handball competition which will take place at the Handball Arena in the Olympic Park, East London.

 

He will provide a focal point for the International Handball Federation (IHF) in relation to all competition issues whilst ensuring that the competition is organised in accordance with IHF regulations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter and the Host City Contract.

 

He will also be liaising with other London 2012 functional areas to ensure the coordinated delivery of support services such as accreditation, transport, medical, venue operations and volunteers.

 

Gavrilovic said: “The handball competition had great success and proved to be very popular with spectators in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

 

"I look forward to working closely with the International Handball Federation and the British Handball Association (BHA) to establish handball as the 'must see' sport in London 2012.

 

"I am passionate about handball and proud to have been once again entrusted with the role of handball competition manager, this time for the London 2012 Games.

 

"I am committed to delivering the best ever handball competition whilst at the same time maximising the legacy benefits for the sport.”

 

The handball competition will involves 336 athletes and two gold medals.

 

It is a sport that is growing in popularity in the United Kingdom.

 

Planning permission has been granted for the Handball Arena in the Olympic Park, a construction contractor appointed and the site cleared ready for the start of construction next month.

 

Gavrilovic has extensive experience in national and international handball event organisation having been President of the Australian Handball Federation from 2006 to 2009 and handball competition Manager at the Sydney Games in 2000.

 

He has been involved in handball for over 27 years and has held many roles within the sport, including representing New South Wales and Australia as a player, coaching and managing handball teams at all levels, officiated, refereeing and holding various administrative roles, among them secretary-general and President of the NSW Handball Association and the Australian Handball Federation.

 

Paul Goodwin, the chief executive of the BHA, said: “The London 2012 Games provides the greatest opportunity to showcase world class handball to the British public.

 

"Alex’s experience of managing the Handball competition in Sydney 2000 will help us to prepare for and maximise the effect of the Games, so as to create such an interest that the sport may become as popular in Britain as it is in the rest of Europe.