The speech, which the Prime Minister, Aksel V. Johannesen, gave at Vaglin in Havn at a reception for the U21 men’s national handball team:

 

Good Faroese, good national team,

”The biggest event in Faroese handball ever. Well, maybe in the history of Faroese sports in team sports in general.”

You may think that the words I have just said are appropriate for today.

They could be the same. 

But they are from 2017, when I as a lawmaker sent greetings to the then U21 national handball team.

Then the trick was to qualify for the World Cup final.

Now – 8 years later – we are not only in the World Cup final. We are the third best in the world. This is historic. This is awesome!

Good morning everyone,

Handball is a community. And it’s never too late to join a community.

This will be proven every time tickets for national matches are sold out.

Every time a young girl or young boy throws the first handball.

And every time, we hear proud athletes sing the national anthem and represent the nation.

There are probably many who follow handball today who had never seen a whole handball match a short time ago.

Yes, and there are still some who do not fully know the rules, but follow the map!

It’s the community that draws. It is the powerful feeling of standing together.

All as one!

Dear listeners,

We stand today on the shoulders of those who came before us.

Imagine:

More than 50 years ago, handball was not played indoors. He was played out.

There are big runs from then until today, where we are undefeated in the magnificent home field at Tjarnir.  

Your achievements in Poland will mean a lot to future generations.

It will light a spark that was completely unthinkable just a few years ago.

With good results, confidence, and enthusiasm comes greater interest.

You are leading today, and in a few years others will stand on your shoulders.

Handball in the Faroe Islands has reached an international level.

We have gone from talking about whether we should have a national team – to how proud we are of our national teams.

Good national team,

Time after time it is said that you have a very special cohesion.

I can assume that it is with mixed feelings that this particular group has had the last minutes together. But you ended up with a real brawl!

These last few weeks have been a lot of fun. But two have stuck in my mind, which show solidarity and suffering.

One is when the captain, Ísak Vedelsbøl, showed himself as a leader after the burning free kick and confirmed:

”I’m glad it was me – and not someone else.”

After the bronze medal match, Høgni Højsted confirmed in a similar way that it was good that he got the red card and not Ísak.

When things go well for individuals, you have to think about the whole.

About the company.

About the team.

These are healthy and good values that speak to our hearts, and we as a society learn from them.

Finally, I would like to thank all of you who have volunteered to do their part to lift players and clubs up to what we see today.

Thank you for your selflessness.

For now, you’re playing handball.

And for tireless determination.

Players and coaches have a special role in the medals.

But I know that the entire national team and most Faroese have enormous respect for the volunteer enthusiasts in HSF and the clubs around the country.

You make the future bright for Faroese handball, and together we look forward to more memorable moments.

Congratulations and drive to the Faroe Islands! 

Photos: Ólavur Frederiksen