Olympic Handball – are you ready?

Great Britain’s women’s handballers avoided World and Olympic champions Norway in the draw for London 2012 - but they admit they have a mountain to climb at the Games.

They’re in the same group as Russia, Croatia, Brazil, Angola and Montenegro.

“ We are happy with all the teams except for Russia. We would have liked to have had Spain instead of Russia but it is a good draw," said Zoe Van der Weel.

British captain Lynne McCafferty added: “All the teams are world class, and so much better than us, so we will have to work really hard."

As if to underline the point, potential medallists Montenegro beat Britain 37-22 in a qualifier held at Crystal Palace.

The women’s team have been living and training on the site but struggle to find sponsorship. The squad members have been selling t-shirts to a growing army of fans to fund their Olympic progress.

“There is an Olympic buzz. More people are coming to watch us,” said McCafferty.

The men’s draw, meanwhile, pitted Great Britain against 2008 Olympic champions France and silver medallists Iceland. Sweden and Argentina and Tunisia are their other opponents.