Basketball at the Summer Olympics

Basketball at the Summer Olympics
Governing body	FIBA
Events	2 (men: 1; women: 1)
Games
1896 • 1900 • 1904 • 1908 • 1912 • 1920 1924 • 1928 • 1932 • 1936 • 1948 • 1952 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 2004 • 2008 • 2012 Note: demonstration sport years indicated in italics
Medalists

Basketball has been a Summer Olympics sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a medal sport, it was held as demonstration event in 1904 and 1932, both in the United States. Women's basketball was played in the Olympics only since 1976.

The United States is by far the most successful nation in Olympic basketball. American men's teams won 13 of 16 tournaments they participated in, including seven successive titles from 1936 to 1968. American women's teams won 6 titles out of 8, including four in a row from 1996 to 2008.

History

Basketball was invented by the Canadian-American James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. Within a few decades, the new game became popular throughout the United States as an indoor sport. The popularity spread overseas and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) was organized in 1932 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Early American dominance

Thanks in part to the effort of Phog Allen^[1][2] (Kansas Jayhawks collegiate coach), the first Olympic basketball tournament was organized in the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin on outdoor tennis courts. Dr. Naismith presented the medals to the top three teams. According to the Olympic rules of that time, all of the competitors were amateurs. The tournament was held indoors for the first time in 1948. The American team proved its dominance, winning the first seven Olympic tournaments until 1968 without losing a single game. The Soviet Union, that joined the Olympics in 1952, became the Americans' main rival, and was runner-up four successive times from 1952 to 1964. Yugoslavia emerged as a major force in 1968, when they beat the Soviets in the semifinal but lost to the Americans in the final.

70s and 80s

The United States winning streak ended in 1972, when the Soviet Union beat them in the gold-medal game in highly controversial circumstances. The Americans refused to receive their silver medals and they are being kept in IOC possession ever since. The Americans reclaimed the gold medal in 1976, with Yugoslavia runner-up for the second time. In 1980, with the Americans' absence due to the boycott, Yugoslavia became the third team to win the title after beating the Soviets in the semifinals and Italy in the final. The United States regained the title in 1984, beating Spain in the final, with the Soviets boycotting this time. The Soviets won the gold medal for the second time in 1988, after beating the Americans for the second time in the semifinal, and the Yugoslavs in the gold medal game.

Professional era

In 1989, through the leadership of President Borislav Stanković, FIBA approved the rule that allowed NBA players to compete in international tournaments, including the Olympics. In the next Olympics in 1992, the "Dream Team" won the gold medal with average winning margin of 44 points, and without calling a time out. By this time, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia no longer existed, but their predecessors continued to be among the leading forces. Two newly-indepent counties, Croatia and Lithuania, won the silver and broze medals respectively.

The Americans repeated their victory in 1996 and 2000, but they were not as impressive as in 1992. In 1996, Atlanta was the only host city so far with an NBA team since NBA players were allowed to compete in the Olympics, as Atlanta is home to the Hawks. Serbia and Montenegro was the runner-up in Atlanta, and France in Sydney, with Lithuania winning bronze again on both occasions.

The renewed dominance of the United States was interrupted in 2004 when the Americans suffered their third defeat in Olympic history to Argentina in the semifinals. The Argentines went on to beat Italy in the final and become the fourth team to win the Olympic title.

The United States regained the gold medal in 2008, with Spain as runner-up, and won their first global title since the 2000 Olympics.

Women

Venues

Main article: List of Olympic venues in basketball

All venues were indoor stadiums except for the 1936 tournament which was held outdoors on tennis courts.

• Berlin 1936: Reichsportfeld, Berlin
• London 1948: Harringay Arena, Harringay
• Helsinki 1952: Tennis Palace and Messuhalli II, both in Helsinki
• Melbourne 1956: Exhibition Building, Melbourne
• Rome 1960: Sports Arena and Sports Palace, Rome
• Tokyo 1964: Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo
• Mexico City 1968: Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City
• Munich 1972: Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Siegenburger Straße, Munich
• Montreal 1976: Étienne Desmarteau Centre and the Montreal Forum, Montreal
• Moscow 1980: CSCA Sports Palace and Olimpiysky Stadium, Moscow
• Los Angeles 1984: The Forum, Inglewood
• Seoul 1988: Jamsil Arena, Seoul
• Barcelona 1992: Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona, Badalona
• Atlanta 1996: Forbes Arena and the Georgia Dome, Atlanta
• Sydney 2000: The Dome and Sydney SuperDome, Sydney
• Athens 2004: Helliniko Indoor Arena and the Olympic Indoor Hall, Athens
• Beijing 2008: Wukesong Indoor Stadium, Beijing
• London 2012: Olympic Basketball Arena and the O₂ Arena, London
• Rio de Janeiro 2016: Arena 1 do Centro Olímpico de Treinamento, Rio de Janeiro

Qualifying

As of 2012, the qualifying process consists of three stages:

1. 1 team (for each gender) qualifies as the reigning world champion.
2. 7 teams for men and 5 for women qualify through their respective regional championships.
3. 3 teams for men and 5 for women qualify through a world qualifying tournament, in which the best teams which did not qualify directly from each zone compete for the remaining berths.

Additionally, the teams of the host nation qualify automatically.

Zone	Men	Women
World Championship	1	1
African championship	1	1
Americas championship	2	1
Asia championship	1	1
Europe championship	2	1
Oceania championship	1	1
World qualifying tournament	3	5
Host Nation	1	1
Total	12	12

Men's tournaments

Year	Host		Gold medal game				Bronze medal game
			Gold medalist	Score	Silver medalist		Bronze medalist	Score	Fourth place
1936 details	Berlin		United States	19–8	Canada		Mexico	26–12	Poland
1948 details	London		United States	65–21	France		Brazil	52–47	Mexico
1952 details	Helsinki		United States	36–25	Soviet Union		Uruguay	68–59	Argentina
1956 details	Melbourne		United States	89–55	Soviet Union		Uruguay	71–62	France
1960 details	Rome		United States	No playoffs	Soviet Union		Brazil	No playoffs	Italy
1964 details	Tokyo		United States	73–59	Soviet Union		Brazil	76–60	Puerto Rico
1968 details	Mexico City		United States	65–50	Yugoslavia		Soviet Union	70–53	Brazil
1972 details	Munich		Soviet Union	51–50	United States		Cuba	66–65	Italy
1976 details	Montreal		United States	95–74	Yugoslavia		Soviet Union	100–72	Canada
1980 details	Moscow		Yugoslavia	86–77	Italy		Soviet Union	117–94	Spain
1984 details	Los Angeles		United States	96–65	Spain		Yugoslavia	88–82	Canada
1988 details	Seoul		Soviet Union	76–63	Yugoslavia		United States	78–49	Australia
1992 details	Barcelona		United States	117–85	Croatia		Lithuania	82–78	Unified Team
1996 details	Atlanta		United States	95–69	Yugoslavia		Lithuania	80–74	Australia
2000 details	Sydney		United States	85–75	France		Lithuania	89–71	Australia
2004 details	Athens		Argentina	84–69	Italy		United States	104–96	Lithuania
2008 details	Beijing		United States	118–107	Spain		Argentina	87–75	Lithuania
2012 details	London

Performance by confederation

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament.

Confederation	1936	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016
FIBA Africa	15th–18th	19th	9th–16th	--	--	--	15th	15th	12th	11th	12th	10th	10th	11th	12th	12th	12th
FIBA Americas	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	2nd	1st	5th	1st	3rd	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st
FIBA Asia	5th	8th	9th–16th	7th	11th	10th	13th	13th	11th	12th	10th	9th	12th	8th	10th	8th	8th
FIBA Europe	4th	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd	1st	2nd	1st	2nd	1st	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd
FIBA Oceania	--	--	--	12th	--	9th	--	9th	8th	8th	7th	4th	6th	4th	4th	9th	7th

Participating nations

Nation	36	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Angola	A												10th	11th	12th	12th	12th		5
Argentina		15th	4th											9th		1st	3rd	Q	6
Australia				12th		9th		9th	8th	8th	7th	4th	6th	4th	4th	9th	7th	Q	13
Belgium	19th	11th	17th																3
Brazil	9th	3rd	6th	6th	3rd	3rd	4th	7th		5th	9th	5th	5th	6th				Q	14
Bulgaria			7th	5th	16th		10th												4
Canada	2nd	9th	9th	9th		14th			4th		4th	6th			7th				9
Central African Republic	A											10th							1
Chile	9th	6th	5th	8th															4
China	A				A						10th	11th	12th	8th	10th	8th	8th		7
Chinese TaipeiB	15th	18th		11th															3
Croatia	C												2nd	7th			6th		3
Nation	36	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Cuba		13th	9th				11th	3rd	7th	6th									6
Czechoslovakia	9th	7th	9th		5th			8th	6th	9th				A					7
Egypt	15th	19th	9th					16th	12th		12th	12th							7
Estonia	9th		D																1
Finland			9th			11th													2
France	19th	2nd	8th	4th	10th						11th				2nd			Q	8
GermanyE	15th							12th			8th		7th				10th		5
Great Britain		20th																Q	2
Greece			17th											5th		5th	5th		4
Hungary		16th	9th		9th	13th													4
India										12th									1
Iran		14th															11th		2
Nation	36	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Iraq		22nd																	1
Ireland		23rd																	1
Israel	A		17th																1
Italy	7th	17th	17th		4th	5th	8th	4th	5th	2nd	5th				5th	2nd			12
Japan	9th			10th	15th	10th		14th	11th										6
Korea	A	8th		14th		16th	14th					9th		12th					6
Latvia	15th		D																1
Lithuania			D										3rd	3rd	3rd	4th	4th		5
Mexico	3rd	4th	9th		12th	12th	5th		10th										7
Morocco	A						16th												1
New Zealand															11th	10th			2
Panama							12th												1
Nation	36	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Peru	8th	10th				15th													3
Philippines	5th	12th	9th	7th	11th		13th	13th											7
Poland	4th				7th	6th	6th	10th		7th									6
Puerto Rico	A				13th	4th	9th	6th	9th			7th	8th	10th		6th			9
Romania			17th																1
Russia	A		D										F		8th		9th		2
Senegal	A						15th	15th		11th									3
Serbia and MontenegroH	G													2nd	6th	11th			3
Singapore	A			13th		I													1
Soviet Union	A		2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd	3rd	1st	3rd	3rd		1st	F	A					9
Spain					14th		7th	11th		4th	2nd	8th	9th		9th	7th	2nd	Q	11
Sweden										10th									1
Nation	36	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Switzerland	9th	21st	17th																3
Thailand	A			15th															1
Tunisia																		Q	1
Turkey	19th		17th																2
Unified Team	A												4th	A					1
United States	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	2nd*	1st		1st	3rd	1st	1st	1st	3rd	1st	Q	17
Uruguay	6th	5th	3rd	3rd	8th	8th					6th								7
Venezuela													11th						1
Yugoslavia					6th	7th	2nd	5th	2nd	1st	3rd	2nd				A			8
Nations	21	23	23	15	16	16	16	16	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12

Notes

^A NOC was not member of IOC
^B as China from 1936–56
^C part of Yugoslavia from 1936–1988
^D competed as part of Soviet Union from 1952–88
^E as West Germany from 1968–88
^F part of Unified Team in 1992
^G now Serbia, as FR Yugoslavia from 1992–2002
^H part of Yugoslavia from 1936–1988
^I part of Malaysia in 1964

Unofficial or demonstration tournament winners

• 1904 Buffalo German YMCA
• 1924 London Central YMCA

Women's tournaments

Year	Host		Gold medal game				Bronze medal game
			Gold medalist	Score	Silver medalist		Bronze medalist	Score	Fourth place
1976 details	Montreal		Soviet Union	No playoffs	United States		Bulgaria	No playoffs	Poland
1980 details	Moscow		Soviet Union	104–73	Bulgaria		Yugoslavia	68–65	Hungary
1984 details	Los Angeles		United States	85–55	Korea		China	63–57	Canada
1988 details	Seoul		United States	77–70	Yugoslavia		Soviet Union	68–53	Australia
1992 details	Barcelona		Unified Team	76–66	China		United States	88–74	Cuba
1996 details	Atlanta		United States	111–87	Brazil		Australia	66–56	Ukraine
2000 details	Sydney		United States	76–54	Australia		Brazil	84–73	Korea
2004 details	Athens		United States	74–63	Australia		Russia	71–62	Brazil
2008 details	Beijing		United States	92–65	Australia		Russia	94–81	China
2012 details	London

Performance by confederation

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament.

Confederation	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016
FIBA Africa	--	--	--	--	--	12th	12th	11th	12th
FIBA Americas	2nd	5th	1st	1st	3rd	1st	1st	1st	1st
FIBA Asia	5th	--	2nd	6th	2nd	7th	4th	9th	4th
FIBA Europe	1st	1st	6th	2nd	1st	4th	5th	3rd	3rd
FIBA Oceania	--	--	5th	4th	--	3rd	2nd	2nd	2nd

Participating nations

Nation	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Australia			5th	4th	6th	3rd	2nd	2nd	2nd	Q	8
Brazil					7th	2nd	3rd	4th	11th		5
Belarus	B				C				6th		1
Bulgaria	3rd	2nd		5th							3
Canada	6th		4th			11th	10th				4
China	A		3rd	6th	2nd	9th		9th	4th	Q	7
Cuba		5th			4th	6th	9th				4
Czech Republic	D							5th	7th		2
France							5th				1
Great Britain										Q	1
Greece								7th			1
Hungary		4th									1
Nation	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Italy		6th			8th	8th					3
Japan	5th					7th		10th			3
Korea			2nd	7th		10th	4th	12th	8th		6
Latvia	B								9th		1
Mali									12th		1
New Zealand							11th	8th	10th		3
Nigeria								11th			1
Poland	4th						8th				1
Russia	B				C	5th	6th	3rd	3rd	Q	5
Senegal							12th				1
Slovak Republic	D						7th				4
Soviet Union	1st	1st		3rd	C	A					3
Nation	76	80	84	88	92	96	00	04	08	12	Years
Spain					5th			6th	5th		3
Ukraine	B				C	4th					4
Unified Team	A				1st	A					1
United States	2nd		1st	1st	3rd	1st	1st	1st	1st	Q	9
Yugoslavia		3rd	6th	2nd				A			3
DR CongoE						12th					1
Nations	6	6	6	8	8	12	12	12	12	12

Medal Table

Total

Countries ranked by total medals won (men's and women's).

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States	19	2	3	24
2	Soviet Union	4	4	4	12
3	Yugoslavia	1	5	2	8
4	Argentina	1	0	1	2
5	Unified Team (EUN)	1	0	0	1
6	Australia (AUS)	0	3	1	4
7	France	0	2	0	2
	Italy	0	2	0	2
	Spain	0	2	0	2
10	Brazil	0	1	4	5
11	Bulgaria (BUL)	0	1	1	2
	China (CHN)	0	1	1	2
13	Canada	0	1	0	1
	Croatia	0	1	0	1
	South Korea (KOR)	0	1	0	1
16	Lithuania	0	0	3	3
17	Uruguay	0	0	2	2
	Russia (RUS)	0	0	2	2
19	Cuba	0	0	1	1
	Mexico	0	0	1	1

Medal table, men

Top finishes of countries that played in the men's tournament of Olympic basketball.

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States	13	1	2	16
2	Soviet Union	2	4	3	9
3	Yugoslavia	1	4	1	6
4	Argentina	1	0	1	2
5	France	0	2	0	2
	Italy	0	2	0	2
	Spain	0	2	0	2
8	Canada	0	1	0	1
	Croatia	0	1	0	1
10	Brazil	0	0	3	3
	Lithuania	0	0	3	3
12	Uruguay	0	0	2	2
13	Cuba	0	0	1	1
	Mexico	0	0	1	1

Medal table, women

Top finishes of countries that played in women's Olympic basketball

.

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States (USA)	6	1	1	8
2	Soviet Union (URS)	2	0	1	3
3	Unified Team (EUN)	1	0	0	1
4	Australia (AUS)	0	3	1	4
5	Brazil (BRA)	0	1	1	2
	Bulgaria (BUL)	0	1	1	2
	China (CHN)	0	1	1	2
	Yugoslavia (YUG)	0	1	1	2
9	South Korea (KOR)	0	1	0	1
10	Russia (RUS)	0	0	2	2

Notes

^A NOC was not member of IOC
^B competed as part of Soviet Union from 1952–88
^C part of Unified Team in 1992
^D part of Czechoslovakia from 1920–92
^E as Zaire from 1984–96

See also

• Wheelchair basketball at the Summer Paralympics

Notes

1. ^ Before They Were Giants
2. ^ Basketball Hall of Fame – Phog Allen

References

• 2012 London Olympic Basketball Tournament Coverage by fiba.com
• Olympic Basketball Medal count by fiba.com
• All-time men's results
• All-time women's results