“the passion” of these French supporters who travel thousands of kilometers to support the Blues

Code name : “All Hand Blue”. The Blues must face Iceland, this Saturday, January 22 for the second match of the main round of the European championship which takes place in Hungary and Slovakia.

And they will be about 200 in the room of the Budapest MVM Dome to encourage the Blues: among them, some have come from very, very far, like Malou, this former teacher who came from the island of Reunion, both for sport and for the trip. “It’s the passion ! I have always liked to travel. I think I’m at 90 countries visited. We combine discovery, good food, other cultures, etc. And then there is the most important thing: human relations”, he smiled.

A hundred of these French supporters now find themselves in an association created last summer, “All Hand Blue”.

“There are people who have discovered handball and who come to it, and having an association makes them feel a little less alone, Explain the president of the association, Jean-Marc Florentin, from Grenoble. We help them to reduce travel costs.

“It’s a spirit of camaraderie, in a good atmosphere. And then, it’s multi-age. There are children, there are adults, retirees…”

Jean-Marc Florentin

at franceinfo

“It lives well and that’s what makes today we manage to have fun” he points out.

Because encouraging the Blues abroad has a cost. Daniel, for example, traveled from Le Mans to Hungary and spent nearly 2,200 euros. “Me, I’m retired. I am resuming a seasonal activity in order to finance my pleasure in traveling and supporting the French team. There is handball, but apart from handball, on days, there is no match, it is a visit to the country and the places we cross”

These supporters were not discouraged by the Covid which could frighten the most fervent, especially since there is no gauge in the halls in Hungary. A virus which also undermines the competition, while the majority of the teams had to place the players in solitary confinement and in addition, one of the organizing countries, Hungary, was eliminated prematurely. But the show is still there, says Jean-Michel, another supporter from Sarthe.

“Yes, the show on the pitch can be touching, but today the show is also in the stands. That’s what we’re here for! Hungary didn’t qualify, which spoils a bit the show because, suddenly, we have a large room which is unfortunately a little empty. But hey, on the pitch, the young players will do everything necessary, it’s their ticket. They do part of the France team, of all the national teams. They have a role to play, whatever their status” analyzes this supporter, who, like a majority of the members of the association, are former handball practitioners and particularly connoisseurs.