OUR VISION
Create an atmosphere for people from different European countries to meet each other through handball, so that everyone takes part in celebrating handball, sport and fair play bycheering his/her team
Having as the primary vision, which lead us during our bid for organizing previous handball
championships – promotion of the country and its sport, as well as presenting the handball
federation as a reliable and excellent organizer and host , the decision to bid for 2014 ECh leads us
one step further. Considering present international circumstances, we wish to use handball as a
tool that would help bringing together European peoples. Our desire is that all our guests meet
each other through handball and celebrate sport and fair play. Therefore our slogan – Come, Meet,
Cheer and Celebrate! – is the thread we will follow throughout the bidding process and the eventual
organization of the Championship.
We also want to contribute to this kind of unity by having our federations teaming up with in this
bid. We firmly believe that our joint candidature is the strongest and that it is the winning option.
After 10 centuries of joint history of leaving together in the same State, Croatia and Hungary are
now two neighboring countries with an excellent bilateral relationship. The main points of strategic
partnership for both countries are good political and economical relationship (especially in the
field of energy, tourism, traffic and infrastructure), cultural cooperation, and the high level of mutual
minority protection program.
It is also important to mention the Trans-border Cooperation Program made between Hungary and
Croatia for the period 2007-2013 by which considerable development relating the road infrastructure
has been reached. The construction of the corporate bridge at the river Mura built both by Croatian
and Hungarian construction companies was very important when constructing the route of the
Budapest – Zagreb – Rijeka highway opened to public in the year 2008. This highway has connected
Budapest with the Adriatic coast, which can now be reached in 5 hour drive.
From now on the citizens of both countries are better connected as all participants of EURO 2014
will be. It makes it easy and cheep for the spectators, as well as the media to reach the venues and
follow the competition.
Of course, we do not want to forget about the most significant actors of the event, the players. They
should be always in the focus! Therefore it is very important that they do not have to travel too
much and can reserve their energy for the matches, thus keeping a good level of performance
throughout the tournament.
The close distance between venues within Hungary and Croatia, excellent road connections, and
unification of the two very competent handball federations for the same cause, make our bid even
stronger and more competitive.
The mixture of Mediterranean spirit and Middle Europe culture will be at its best in 2014 when
welcoming the guests from all Europe, this is our guaranty!
Considering all the facts, it is our opinion that the mutual bid of our two countries is a top score
decision and that all of us, both participants as well as organizers, will in the best way transmit our
vision – the spirit of togetherness, excellent communication, good fun, and a perfect carrying out
of the Championship.