With 12 weeks left to throw-off for the first game of the Handball World Championship 2011 in Sweden, the host cities are preparing to welcome all supporters.
– This will be a party, both in arenas and on the town, says Karl Löfmark, Manager of External Events.

Tens of thousands of Danes will come to Malmo. The red and whites will face competition from large groups of Croatian fans, and certainly a lot of Serbian ones.

In Norrköping and Linköping, large Norwegian groups will bring festive touch to the city. Here it may also be samba pace in the arenas – the Brazilian Tourist Office takes the initiative to help with a carnival atmosphere.

Sweden plays their group matches in Gothenburg and in the same stadium, the Polish supporters will do everything to compete with the support for the host nation.

– In Kristianstad and Lund is the "death group", including three former world champions. France is the defending champion but on the seats in the arenas Germany is clear favorites. The German railway company Deutsche Bahn markets the championship travels and will carry lots of fans from handball-crazy Germany, says Karl Löfmark.

In all championship cities there will be a fanzone where supporters meet to socialize, watch championship games on big screens and get in the mood. There is free admission and everyone is welcome.

January 13 at 18:30 is the official opening ceremony for the biggest event in Scandinavia next year. Less than two hours later, the first championship match, between Sweden and Chile, starts.