Olympic sport since 1936
For 36 years after basketball entered the Olympic Games as a full medal sport
for men, the question was not who would win, but who would finish second. The
United States owned the game, and not just because it was invented there.
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U.S.
player Dwyane Wade (L) maneuvers around China's Yao Ming during the first
round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo August 20, 2006.
[Reuters] |
The Soviet Union took home the gold
when they toppled the US team in a controversial 1972 game. After another
semi-final victory for the Soviets in 1988, the sport opened to professionals.
Once again, the question became who would finish second. In Barcelona in
1992, with a squad featuring some of the world's best-known athletes - Michael
Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird - the gold-medal winning US "Dream Team"
gave an exhibition of basketball at its best.
After an NBA All-Star packed team finished only sixth during the recent FIBA
World Championship in 2002, the question will remain if the winning streak of US
teams can prevail in future Olympic Games.
Women's basketball hasn't been quite such a one-sided affair. Since it joined
the Olympic programme in 1976, the gold medals have been divided between the US,
the Soviet Union and, after the break-up of the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth
of Independent States.
After a bronze medal in Atlanta and a Silver medal in Sydney, Australia may
have their quest for the podium as well as the traditional powerhouse Brazil.
COMPETITION
Basketball is played in 4 periods of 10 minutes each at the Olympic Games.
Five-minute overtimes follow if a game is tied. Both the Men's and the Women’s
basketball tournament is played with 12 teams, except the host country and the
reigning World Champion all teams have to qualify through a continental
championship a year in advance to the Olympics. A three-point line, or arc,
around the hoop allows three points for baskets from beyond 6.25 metres and two
points from inside that distance.
LIST OF EVENTS
basketball
Men
basketball Women
