More than 1,000 people went to Laugardalshöll sports hall yesterday to welcome the Icelandic men’s handball team. They had just returned from the European Handball Championship in Austria, where they won the bronze.
Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir, along with other ministers and the team’s families welcomed the team when their plane arrived at the Reykjavík domestic airport.
“One could get used to this, coming home with a medal,” Iceland’s coach Gudmundur Gudmundsson told RÚV.
The handballers were then taken via bus to Laugardalshöll sports hall where they were saluted by fans. After a ceremony, the team members gave eager fans their autographs, Morgunbladid reports.
Gudmundsson said the European Championship was more difficult than the Olympics, where Iceland claimed the silver in 2008.
Arnór Atlason gives his autograph to eager fans. Photos by Geir Ólafsson.
“There are more games in a shorter time span than at the Olympics. The games are also more difficult because all of the opponents in the European Championship are tough,” Gudmundsson explained.
“So I believe the European Championship is the most difficult regarding pressure,” the coach reasoned. “No victories can be booked in advance.”
Click here to read more about the Icelandic bronze.
