Iceland — Handball

Handball is the most popular indoor team sport in Iceland, and Iceland has achieved remarkable success relative to its small population of roughly 370,000. The Olis Deildin features 26 clubs across 2 competitions.

Iceland's World Championship silver medal in 1995 remains one of the most extraordinary achievements by a small nation in any team sport. Handball holds a special place in Icelandic sporting culture.

Handball was introduced to Iceland in the 1920s, and the Icelandic Handball Association was founded in 1936. The sport quickly became popular in this small North Atlantic nation, becoming the country's premier indoor team sport.

Iceland's greatest achievement came in 1995, when the national team won the World Championship silver medal on home soil. This extraordinary result cemented handball's status as the country's most celebrated team sport. Iceland has also won European Championship bronze (2010) and competed at the Olympics.

The Icelandic Handball Association (Handknattleikssamband Islands, HSI) governs handball in Iceland. Founded in 1936, it is a member of the EHF and IHF, managing domestic competitions and national team programmes for one of the world's most handball-passionate nations per capita.

The Olisdeild Karla is the top division of men's handball in Iceland. The Icelandic Handball Cup provides knockout competition. Despite the country's small population, the league maintains a competitive standard that has helped develop players for top European clubs.

Iceland's World Championship silver medal in 1995, won on home soil, stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in team sport history relative to population size. Iceland also won European Championship bronze in 2010 and has qualified for multiple Olympic tournaments, including a 5th-place finish at Beijing 2008. Numerous Icelandic players have starred in top European leagues.