Featured Image Credit: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images / Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Topics: Olympics, Social Media, Twitter, Viral
Callum Jones
Topics: Olympics, Social Media, Twitter, Viral
People tuning into the Paris Olympics are 'absolutely hooked' on a sport they've rarely seen before - despite not understanding the rules.
While we all have our preferred sport, whether that be football, baseball or soccer, the Olympics allow us to delve into something new.
And as the games only come around every four years, the majority of us only get to watch this more niche sport every so often.
But with how much many are enjoying handball at Paris 2024, some may decide to continue watching the sport past the Olympics.
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That is despite the fact a lot of Americans actually don't understand the rules, mind.
Many have taken to Twitter to discuss handball, with the vast majority of folks left pretty impressed.
"What a fab game handball is! So many goals and penalties, few rules as you move with the ball. I’m absolutely hooked," one person penned.
A second added: "Don’t really understand the penalties and a lot of the nuance but this sport rocks."
A third remarked: "Olympics really be having you locked into sports you didn’t even know existed because I am invested in handball and I don’t even know the rules for real it’s like soccer and basketball had a baby."
A fourth quipped: "Every Olympics I try to teach myself the rules of handball & I fall short every single time."
Well, typically played in indoors, handball is known for its intense and high speed play.
The handball playing court is a rectangular area consisting of two goal areas and a central playing area; these are divided by a central line.
Very much like soccer, the goals in handball are surrounded by a semi-circular area called the goal-area line.
But unlike that very popular sport, only the goalkeeper is allowed in that particular area.
A match of handball lasts a total of 60 minutes, divided up into two halves of 30 minutes.
And if the game is tied when the clock hits 60 minutes, overtime is played.
This part of the game consists of two periods lasting just the five minutes each.
If still undecided at that point, the game goes into a tie-breaker.
A handball team consists of seven players, including a goalkeeper.
However, that goalkeeper can become a court player at any time if they wish.
Handball has become a staple in the summer Olympics, making its debut at the 1972 games in Munich.
But after more than 50 years, people are still baffled and hooked in equal measure as they try and understand what's going on.
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