Gaeta Handball 1984, a team based out of Gaeta, Italy, are truly pioneers in the history of beach handball. Their former president, Franco Schiano, was among the sport’s inventors, and in 1992, they took part in the world’s first ever beach handball tournament, on the island of Ponza.
But, the tournament the team is best known for is the Calise Cup, which they’ve hosted annually since 1989. The event was originally intended as a one-off match between the Juniores 1970 and Gaeta Handball 1984 to commemorate the late Francesco Calise, a friend of many of the players. The following year, in 1990, other teams from their province in Italy joined them, and eventually, by 1999, the tournament featured 31 teams, including nine from outside of Italy.
The tournament continued to grow through the 2000’s and 2010’s, becoming one of the most important beach handball tournaments in Europe. In 2020, like so many other international sporting events, the Calise Cup was canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, by 2021, the arrival of vaccines meant that Calise Cup XXXII could finally go on. Gaeta ’84 even won in the men’s category.
There are already plans in place for the 2022 Calise Cup, which is set to be held from July 1-3. For the first time in the history of handball in Gaeta, the event will be organized in collaboration with Carducci Middle School, giving the students a chance to try beach handball.
Gaeta Handball 1984 is now looking toward the future with their characteristic enthusiasm and optimism. President Ciano Cosmo said: “If all goes as planned, the aid of the vaccine will give new life … to us of Gaeta 1984, with the option to return the Calise Cup … (to) old glories… I applaud these guys who are training…. We are sure that they will not give up before reaching the goal they have set for themselves.”
