IKF’s 80th anniversary: Focus on Youth

13 June 2013 marks the 80th birthday of the International Korfball Federation. On this very date in 1993, leaders of the Netherlands and Belgium Korfball Associations met to establish an International Federation with its main objective to spread the game of korfball across Europe. We have often contemplated what would have happened if the pace of international development of korfball in the 1930 would have been the same as what we have seen around the turn of the millennium. But this is just food for historians.

The IKF Council has designated 2013 as the Year of the Korfball Youth, to celebrate our 80th anniversary. An excellent project team is lead by our Honorary Member Henk Welmers, with young project team members from all continents participating. The pinnacle of the activities in the Year of the Korfball Youth will be a worldwide Youth Korfball Day – upcoming this Saturday June 15. More than 75% of our member associations have committed to take part in what promises to be a memorable day.

For many of the participating national korfball associations, this presents their first endeavours in the youth korfball domain. I am hopefull that this will only be the first step of strengthening the youth programs across the world. I wish all participants a phenomenal  worldwide Youth Korfball Day, and appreciate hearing from many of you on the activities conducted.

Jan Fransoo, President