The Serbian Handball Federation (RSS) celebrated its 75th anniversary on 17 December 2024, with a ceremony hosted in capital Belgrade, its founding location, on Saturday, 21 December 2024.

Special emotions were evoked by the members of the golden generation of the men's and women's national teams who won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 40 years ago representing Yugoslavia. 

Throughout the ceremony which took place in Belgrade, the RSS celebrated both its chequered past, but also the present, with players which helped the men’s side seal the silver medal at the EHF EURO 2012 and the women’s side clinch the silver medal at the 2013 IHF Women’s World Championship also present.

"We are proud to celebrate 75 years of handball  in Serbia. Handball has developed over the years, clubs have progressed and laid a solid foundation for further development. Few can boast of the successes achieved by Metaloplastika and Radnički, two-time European champions. Notable results were also achieved by Železničar, Niš, Proleter Zrenjanin, Spartak, Dinamo, ORK Belgrade, Požarevac and others,” said the President of the Board of Directors of the RSS, Nenad Jankov. 

“When we talk about the results of national handball, our women’s team has won two gold medals in their rich history, one of which is an Olympic medal, five silver medals and three bronze medals. On the other hand, the men have three gold medals, also one Olympic gold, two silver and six bronze. We hope that the generations of 1984 will be a guide for the new generations that are now fighting to perform at the Olympic Games in 2028, also in Los Angeles.”

The International Handball Federation was represented by the IHF Executive Committee member, Narcisa Lecușanu, who congratulated Serbia for the anniversary.

"I am glad to be here with you now. On behalf of the President of the IHF, Dr Hassan Moustafa, I congratulate the Serbian Handball Federation on the 75th anniversary of handball in Serbia. This achievement is proof of the dedication not only to handball in Serbia, but to our sport in general. For the past seven and a half decades, Serbia has played a very important role in the development and promotion of handball. On my own behalf, I hope to be here for your 80th birthday when we will celebrate some new great results," said Lecușanu.

Credit photo: Serbian Handball Federation