Ahead of the Rio Olympics, handball is breaking out of its traditional European base and becoming a truly global sport.
The men's game has never seen an Olympic or world champion from outside Europe, but a controversial Qatari team is hot on the heels of 2012 gold medalist France, while the Brazilian women's team could put on a strong showing at home.
MEDAL FAVORITES: Despite handball's momentum outside its European heartland, traditional powers remain strong. The French men are widely considered to be among the best teams in history, though it suffered a setback with a fifth-place finish at January's European championship, which Germany won.