Special Olympics Handball Trophy – a new category at the Partille World Cup

HK Aranäs won the Para Handball tournament for local teams in 2026. With the Special Olympics Handball Trophy, the competition takes on an international dimension.

The Partille World Cup is now taking the next step to ensure that handball players with an intellectual disability or autism can compete on the same terms as those without a disability. In the summer of 2027, we will welcome teams to the Special Olympics Handball Trophy for the first time – a new international category within the Partille World Cup.

For several years now, the Partille World Cup has hosted a day dedicated to teams whose players have an intellectual disability. This ‘tournament within a tournament’ has been a local event, attracting just a few teams from the Gothenburg region.
– But travelling together as a team. Stepping onto the pitch to face opponents from another country. Celebrating a goal and making new friends between matches, in a tournament lasting several days. These are experiences that make the Partille World Cup something to look forward to, something to remember for a lifetime, says Fredrik Andersson, Secretary General of the Partille World Cup.
– With the Special Olympics Handball Trophy, we want to give more people the opportunity to be part of that experience.

The Special Olympics Handball Trophy is a collaboration between the Partille World Cup, Special Olympics Europe and the Swedish Handball Federation. The new competition will take place on 5–8 July 2027 and will welcome mixed teams comprising players with an intellectual disability or autism.
– Our aim for the Partille World Cup Special Olympic Handball Trophy 2027 is to bring together 15–20 teams, of which at least five will come from countries other than Sweden, says Fredrik Andersson.

Handball brings us together
Since its inception, the Partille World Cup has brought together young people from different countries and cultures, with handball as their common language. The Special Olympics Handball Trophy builds on the same idea: that encounters on and off the court foster friendship, understanding and a sense of community.Here, the teams get to be part of the international handball summer in Gothenburg, with both matches and experiences to share with one another

Four days with the team
The programme begins on Monday with arrival and a Get Together Party. On Tuesday, teams will be divided into groups and play friendly matches, followed by the opening ceremony of the Partille World Cup at Scandinavium. The tournament then continues with group stage matches, knockout rounds and the finals on Thursday.Every team is guaranteed at least five matches. The finals are scheduled to be played at Heden Arena, in the heart of Gothenburg.