What: The EHF European Men's Handball Championship

Where: Poland (four cities; the final in Krakow)

When: January 15 - 31, 2016

Competing: Belarus, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

More: This is the 12th edition of the championship. Denmark, with six medals, has been the most successful team, with a last title in 2012.

Fun Fact: The winner will also qualify to the Rio Olympics. (France, as defending world champions have already qualified.)

Official: http://www.eurohandball.com

What: The 22nd IHF Women's Handball World Championship

Where: Denmark (Frederikshavn, Herning, Kolding, Naestsved)

When: December 05 - 20, 2015

Competing: Angola, Argentina, Brazil, China, Cuba, DR Congo, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia

More: Brazil is the defending champion, and has already qualified for the Olympics as host nation. However, the champion here will also earn a Rio trip.

Fun Fact: Now held every two years, the tournament's size of 24 teams was first implemented in 1997. In the inaugural event on 1957, only four teams competed. (Czechoslovakia won).

​Official: http://www.denmark2015.com

What: 24th Men's Handball World Championship

Where: Doha and Lusail, Qatar

When: January 15 - February 01, 2015

Competing: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iceland, Iran, Macedonia, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia

More: Spain is the defending champion, having won the last Championship in 2013 (they also won in 2005).

Fun Fact: Australia was designated as the Oceania representative, but their invitation was revoked as Oceania has no official handball federation. Germany, which had ranked fifth in 2013, was then invited it its place as a wildcard. (Um, great for the competition, sure, but rough blow for the development of the sport in Australia) And, oh, Bahrain and UAE withdrew for political reasons, to be replaced by Iceland and Saudi Arabia.

Official: http://www.qatarhandball2015.com

What: The 2014 EHF European Women's Handball Championship

Where: Hungary and Croatia (co-hosts, 3 cities in each, Budapest, HUN hosts the knockout final stages)

When: December 07 - 21, 2014

Competing: Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine

More: Montenegro is the defending champion, having defeated Norway in the 2012 Championship. The winner of this tournament automatically qualifies as the primary European representative team to the 2016 Olympics.

Fun Fact: This is the 2nd time the Championships are co-hosted, after 2010's Denmark / Norway share. Norway has won 9 medals in the 10 Championships in history, including 4 straight titles in '04 - '10 (2000, they finished sixth).

Official: http://huncro2014.ehf-euro.com