I've always though Handball, the one at the Olympics, to be like soccer, basketball and water-polo (water-polo without the water).

As for a "medal" sport. YES. It's been a medal sport probably for at least 20 years.

The first time I heard of it was a brief mention during a games years and years ago. It was during the medal count. I saw that someone had won a medal for Handball and couldn't believe the game we played at school was an Olympic event.

Of course, the game we played at school was not an Olympic event. Like you Rick, we used our hands and a tennis ball.

Although, what you described is probably what we would have called Wall Ball. Handball, as we played it, being similar to Table Tennis, though each hit like a Table Tennis Serve and played in the playground.

Michael Ross.