Yesterday, we published Part 1: The EHF’s Censorship of Irish Handball News. If you missed reading Part 1, where we explored our initial communications and challenges, we suggest going back and reading it first to get the full context before continuing.
Part 2 of our ongoing series, we continue with the chronological communication with EHF officials, focusing on their response to our request for media participation at the European Handball Talk event. We will examine their change in attitude and the subsequent decision regarding the ticket offer, given our independent status and lack of affiliation with Olympic Handball Ireland—an issue that wasn’t considered problematic until June 2nd.
European Handball Talk: EHF Offers Free Ticket to Irish Handball News
In February, we noted the EHF’s announcement regarding the European Handball Talk scheduled for June 7-8, 2024, in Cologne. We expressed our interest in participating in this significant event, however, it arised an issue.
Let's explain first what the European Handball Talk is.
European Handball Talk is a significant event in the professional handball community. It is a major gathering where stakeholders such as players, coaches, officials, and media representatives come together to discuss the future of European handball, key issues, developments, and trends.
Irish Handball News saw this event as a valuable opportunity to gain insights from experienced professionals and create an informative article for our audience. However, the cost of attending the event was quite high. Because of that on February 7, we reached out to the EHF department responsible for the event with the following message:
“I am reaching out to you regarding the upcoming European Handball Talk scheduled for June 7th. I'm keen on attending the event to cover its discussions and overall proceedings for an article.
As an emerging nation in handball, I believe there's a lot of potential in Ireland. However, this participation would be independent as I am not affiliated with the Olympic Handball Ireland. Therefore, I wanted to inquire if there are any advantages or opportunities available for media channels like mine to participate or receive coverage privileges during the event.
I am excited about the prospect of shedding light on the event and its implications for the handball community, particularly in Ireland. Your guidance and insights on this matter would be greatly appreciated.”
On February 21, Janne Gremmel from EHF Marketing department, mentioned to us that tickets were priced at EUR 390 (excluding 19% VAT) for just the conference, or EUR 949 (excluding 19% VAT) for the entire weekend, which included the European Handball Talks, the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 matches, and the Cologne Handball Night VIP party. In recognition of our efforts and the commitment required to travel from Ireland to Cologne for the event, EHF offered us an exclusive interview opportunity with a prominent figure on-site. "Since we appreciate your effort and think it is an amazing thought to travel from Ireland to Cologne to attend our event, we would like to provide you with an exclusive interview partner on-site."
Given the high prices, it seemed disproportionately burdensome for us, as a representative of an emerging nation like Ireland and as a volunteer. Especially when considering that the article we intended to write for our platform would ultimately benefit the sport of handball. Consequently, we requested benefits from the EHF department responsible for the event to facilitate our participation with more details shared on 22nd February.
“Allow me to introduce myself in detail: I am the founder of the only handball channel in Ireland, which serves as a platform to promote initiatives within the island, including Irish handball personalities, as well as those who have had or have a direct impact on Ireland, encompassing the promotion of other activities within the sport and success stories from other countries that can be taken as an example to learn and be inspired by. The aim is to offer exposure to interested parties, nationally and worldwide. As an independent and voluntary individual, my mission is to foster promotion and education within the community. Over the past six years, I have actively contributed to the Irish handball scene, even assisting a local club with its management as a volunteer. My decision to remain independent of Olympic Handball Ireland stems from a desire to maintain transparency in promotional efforts and organizational activities, advocating for broader engagement and promotion from all angles without being influenced by any particular perspective on how the information should be published.
Furthermore, it is imperative to note that my current lack of employment status with them should not influence this decision. The primary objective of my voluntary work is rooted in fostering the development of this sport and educating individuals, both locally and globally, about the handball landscape in Ireland.
Regarding your outlined options for attending the event, I have seen the prices online, and that is the reason for contacting you. I cannot afford such a considerable amount, as I need to pay for my own transportation, accommodation and food too. I am eager to explore alternative avenues, if you would be kind in sharing my message with your manager. I would like to talk or even see his / her reflection on this once again, please. Given my unique position as the sole handball blogger in Ireland, and coming from an emerging handball nation where voluntary dedication is the norm, I am keen to inquire if there are additional opportunities available for participation. As mentioned earlier, my intention is to craft an article based on this event, highlighting its learning significance and impact, not only for the handball powerhouse nations but also for smaller nations, so that the shaping of the future in handball can be inclusive for everyone.
I genuinely believe that collaboration between our platforms could mutually benefit our respective audiences from different backgrounds and the handball community at large, aligning with our shared goal of shaping the future of handball both locally in Ireland and globally.”
Explaining the goals and independent status of Irish Handball News, not affiliated with Olympic Handball Ireland, we followed up on May 13th after receiving no response for months. On May 16th, we received the following reply:
“Dear Anamaria,
Thanks a lot for contacting us again, and please accept our deepest apologies for not replying anymore. We have to be honest, that your email got lost in these busy times.
However, we are even happier that you are still interested in attending our event. I have discussed it internally and yes, we can offer you a free ticket for the European Handball Talks on 7/8 June.
Please let me know if you want to accept this offer.
I wish you a pleasant evening and best regards,
Janne”
However, it's essential to keep in mind that until 13th May we published only our articles, "Shocking Truth: The Dark Side of Ireland's Presidential Elections" and Part 1 and 2: Olympic Handball Ireland Issues Apology: Delving into the Secretary's Response".
While we continued to await the ticket, persistently following up with the EHF, we did not receive an answer until the morning of June 2nd. By then, we had already published the article "Reactions to the Irish Handball Issues by the EHF and the Minister of Sport from Ireland" on May 29th, which provided further context for the EHF's subsequent response.
“Dear Anamaria,
Please allow me to jump into this conversation you had with my colleague Janne. While finalizing the attendance for our European Handball Talks just next week your request for an invitation to our business conference was brought to my attention.
After carefully examining the situation, I have to overrule the ‘invitation’. While I have to say that it is great what you are trying to accomplish in Ireland one of our emerging handball nations, as you stated you are not affiliated with “Olympic Handball Ireland”.
It is not foreseen for us, as part of the European Handball Federation to ‘just invite’ members of the press that we previously have not worked with together.
Therefore we cannot confirm your attendance and are sorry for any inconvenience.
For next year, we are definitely open to take a look at this topic again. Could you please provide us with some journalism credentials that you wrote in the interest of handball? Especially in combination with the emerging handball nation of Ireland? Then we can discuss this with our Media colleagues.
All the best for you and the “Irish Handball News”.
With kind regards,
Jana”
As Jana "carefully examined the situation" as EHF representative, we are now reviewing the decition not just privately, as previous efforts have proven unsuccessful, but publicly. It is evident that Jana's attention was drawn to several key issues, particularly the publications from Irish Handball News that highlighted the EHF's stance on the situation with the Olympic Handball Ireland board.
Since February, Irish Handball News has transparently communicated its status and intentions to the EHF. Media accreditation was granted following a review of the platform, and our request to attend the event was internally approved by the EHF on May 16, with full knowledge of the independent status and lack of affiliation with Olympic Handball Ireland. This approval should not be mistaken for a mere "invitation" as she said, it was a direct request from our side and was met with a straightforward offer of a ticket. As Jana’s colleague stated on May 16, "I have discussed it internally, and yes, we can offer you a free ticket for the European Handball Talks on 7/8 June." Therefore, it is accurate to describe it as an "offer" that was later withdrawn, not an unsolicited "invitation."
On February 22, when we inquired about opportunities and benefits, we clearly articulated that our choice to remain independent of Olympic Handball Ireland was driven by a desire to ensure transparency in promotional efforts and organizational activities. This stance was not deemed problematic until we insited on the Irish board issues and more exactly, on the EHF’s position that was publicly announced. The need for a second examination raises questions, especially considering that information regarding the platform's work, status, EHF Media Accreditation, and goals had been clearly communicated for months prior to this decision and requests, besides the project presented to Thomas Schöneich, the EHF Director of Media & Communications in February.
Regarding the journalistic credentials requested, our platform's information was already shared with the EHF in February when we applied for media accreditation, and surprisingly, no additional journalistic credentials were required to approve our application. We are still questioning whether all the work done on our platform up until June 2nd was disregarded simply because the EHF’s name was involved and their support for the Irish board was publicly presented, all without conducting the investigation required in such wrongdoing.
However, on June 2nd, Jana expressed also concern about working with "members of the press that previously have not worked with." This raises questions about the consistency and credibility of their evaluation process, especially considering that this was not an issue before. They had accepted us as independent and not affiliated with Olympic Handball Ireland (OHI) and even entertained our suggestion of cooperation between our platform and EHF to benefit a broader audience in offering even "an exclusive interview partner on-site", on 21st February. This raises concerns about fairness and suggests a potential bias in how different members of the press are treated, particularly based on the subjects of their publications, their independed status, and the degree of control exerted over them. Our situation clearly demonstrates that as an independent platform committed to ethical journalism, we cannot be easily influenced or controlled, and we are unwilling to conform to any expectations except the truth.
If we review the previous communication, it becomes evident that there was a clear shift in attitude. Initially, the information we provided was acknowledged, but this stance changed when the ticket offer was withdrawn, our independent status put into question and additional requests for journalistic credentials were made like nothng about Irish Handball News publications was known.
Given the response and the evident shift in treatment, attitudes, and requests—which seemed more hypocritical than genuine—on June 11th, it was our turn to address to Jana.
“Dear Jana,
I would like to address a few points regarding the withdrawal of the ticket that was initially offered to me by your colleagues, a decision done internally on May 16th. Offering a ticket and then retracting it is considered unprofessional, as you can imagine. While I understand that this decision was made a second time internally, the timing coincides with my recent publications about the EHF's position on the illegalities in Irish handball. This timing appears quite strange and raises concerns, which I suppose you and your colleagues might also find noteworthy, but from a different point of view.
Regarding your request for journalism credentials, I believe there is no need to provide additional credentials. You might need to ask your colleagues why they gave me the Media accreditation back in February. You and your EHF colleagues are already familiar with my work since you got this decision. I suggest also reviewing all the articles I have written, particularly those about the EHF. These articles are not attacks but attempts to highlight the transparency and real issues that Irish handball has faced for years, which have not yet been addressed so far by your organization.
Your colleague responsible for Media and Communication clearly mentioned to me the EHF's position towards the Olympic Handball Ireland illegalities, even so I explained in detail what's happening, and even informed him that I would share his response with the Irish community, as this is the real transparency in media. I offered him the opportunity to clarify his statement about having "full trust in the Irish Federation". With that said, I have been open from the beginning to collaboration and discussions to improve the situation in Ireland and to have the EHF involved in restoring legalities there without making anything public, as that is the duty as EHF.
My intent is clear and aims to promote transparency and accountability in the sport. If you and the rest of your EHF colleagues do not see it this way, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this face-to-face to better understand your values and the principles upheld by the European Handball Federation, as I can see so far, I misunderstand them.
I hope the EHF, as a leading sports organization, still have between its values the following:
1. Integrity: Maintaining the highest standards of ethical behavior and transparency in all activities.
2. Fair Play: Promoting fairness, respect, and sportsmanship on and off the field.
3. Inclusion: Encouraging diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal opportunities for all participants.
4. Excellence: Striving for excellence in all aspects of the sport, from competition to organizational management.
5. Sustainability: Committing to sustainable practices that protect and promote the long-term health of the sport and the environment.
6. Innovation: Embracing innovation to advance the sport, improve the fan experience, and increase engagement.
7. Collaboration: Fostering a spirit of cooperation and partnership among member federations, clubs, players, and other stakeholders.
8. Responsibility: Upholding social responsibility, contributing positively to society, and promoting the values of handball as a means of education and development.
I look forward to discussing this matter further and hope for better outcomes from such an esteemed organization, "European Handball Federation".
Best regards,
Anamaria”
As is often the case, there was no response from her side. We persisted with a follow-up email, ultimately receiving an answer on July 16:
“Dear Anamaria,
please be informed that the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2024 was a sold-out weekend and free of charge tickets to corresponding side events were not available. This topic will not be discussed further from our side.
Best regards,
Jana”
Jana’s response reveals a troubling lack of responsibility and professionalism, especially for someone representing the EHF. In her initial email, she provided specific reasons for withdrawing the ticket offer. However, when directly questioned about these reasons—critical for transparency and trust—she avoided giving a clear answer and instead offered a vague comment about ticket availability. This evasive response not only fails to address the concerns raised but also ignores the EHF’s supposed values of transparency, inclusion, accountability, and freedom of the press. It also reflects poorly on the EHF’s commitment to creating an open and supportive environment for those involved in the sport.
The EHF’s handling of our request for media participation in the European Handball Talk has been troubling. Initially, their responses seemed positive, welcoming an independent platform with volunteer base, offering an exclusive interview and a free ticket. However, their subsequent actions became defensive, inconsistent, and bureaucratic, with requests for information already provided only after our publication about EHF on 29th May. This approach undermines honest reporting and highlights a need for greater transparency and accountability within the EHF. This raises concerns about how open and fair the EHF is in handling independent voices and public analysis of their actions and inactions.
This situation highlights the need for genuine accountability and ethical practices within sports governing bodies. Until these issues are addressed, the EHF’s credibility and commitment to fostering a transparent and inclusive handball community remain in question, impacting the independence of the press, which seeks to present the truth, even when it is uncomfortable for some.
There seems to be a double standard at play, both in the Irish and European contexts. Who, then, should be responsible for analyzing and addressing these linked issues that undermine good practices in the sport and its organizations?
As we work to hold the EHF accountable and promote a fair and open environment in handball, Part 3 will continue with an exploration of another key figure involved.
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