2008 Beijing Olympics - Basketball

Wukesong Indoor Stadium
Beijing, China

Men's basketball became an official Olympic sport in 1936
Women's basketball became on official Olympic sport in 1976

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Olympic Basketball

The United States men's Olympic basketball team has won all of the gold medals (12) from 1936-2004 except 1972 and 1988 (won by the Soviet Union), 1980 (won by Yugoslavia because the US boycotted the 1980 Olympics) and 2004 (won by Argentina).

The United States women's Olympic basketball team has won 5 of the 8 gold medal games since women's basketball became an official Olympic sport in 1976.

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2008 Men's Olympic Basketball Schedule

Group A Teams

• Iran
• Lithuania
• Argentina
• Russia
• Australia
• Qualifier A

August 10th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• Qualifier A vs Australia
• Iran vs Russia
• Lithuania vs Argentina

August 12th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• Qualifier A vs Russia
• Argentina vs Australia
• Iran vs Lithuania

August 14th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• Qualifier A vs Argentina
• Lithuania vs Russia
• Iran vs Australia

August 16th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• Qualifier A vs Lithuania
• Iran vs Argentina
• Russia vs Australia

August 18th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• Qualifier A vs Iran
• Lithuania vs Australia
• Argentina vs Russia

Group B Teams

• China
• Angola
• Spain
• US
• Qualifier B
• Qualifier C

August 10th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs US
• Qualifier C vs Spain
• Qualifier B vs Angola

August 12th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs Spain
• Angola vs US
• Qualifier C vs Qualifier B

August 14th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs Angola
• Qualifier B vs Spain
• Qualifier C vs US

August 16th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs Qualifier B
• Qualifier C vs Angola
• Spain vs US

August 18th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs Qualifier C
• Qualifier B vs US
• Angola vs Spain

August 20th Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• Quarterfinals games

August 22nd Men's Olympic Basketball Games

• Semifinals

August 24th Men's Olympic Basketball Game

• Bronze Medal Game

August 24th Men's Olympic Basketball Game

• Gold Medal Game

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2008 Women's Olympic Basketball Schedule

Group A Teams

• Korea
• Australia
• Russia
• Qualifier A
• Qualifier B
• Qualifier C

August 9th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• Korea vs Qualifier A
• Qualifier B vs Russia
• Qualifier C vs Australia

August 11th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• Korea vs Russia
• Australia vs Qualifier A
• Qualifier B vs Qualifier C

August 13th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• Korea vs Australia
• Qualifier C vs Russia
• Qualifier A vs Qualifier B

August 15th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• Korea vs Qualifier C
• Qualifier B vs Australia
• Russia vs Qualifier A

August 17th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• Korea vs Qualifier B
• Qualifier A vs Qualifier C
• Australia vs Russia

Group B Teams

• China
• Mali
• New Zealand
• US
• Qualifier D
• Qualifier E

August 9th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs Qualifier E
• Qualifier D vs US
• Mali vs New Zealand

August 11th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs US
• New Zealand vs Qualifier E
• Qualifier D vs Mali

August 13th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs New Zealand
• Mali vs US
• Qualifier E vs Qualifier D

August 15th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs Mail
• Qualifier D vs New Zealand
• US vs Qualifier E

August 17th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• China vs Qualifier D
• Mali vs Qualifier E
• New Zealand vs US

August 19th Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• Quarterfinals

August 21st Women's Olympic Basketball Games

• Semifinals

August 23rd Women's Olympic Basketball Game

• Bronze Medal Game

August 23rd Women's Olympic Basketball Game

• Gold Medal Game

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Olympic Basketball Playoff Format

The playoff format is the same in both men's and women's Olympic basketball. Twelve teams are divided into two groups of six teams that play each other in a round robin format. In the Olympic format playoff system that follows, basically, the teams with the best records play a semifinal which determines the bronze medal game and gold medal game.

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Olympic Basketball

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.

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.

DISCIPLINE'S ORIGIN

Basketball was invented in December 1891 by James W. Naismith (1861-1939) of Canada, who was then an instructor at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, now Springfield College. The game was invented when Naismith was charged with developing an indoor game to keep his students in shape during the cold New England winter. Originally, basketball was played with peach baskets, and an attendant on a ladder retrieved the ball after a made basket. Naismith formulated 13 rules of the game, the majority of which still form the basics of the modern game.

Although primarily developed in the United States, basketball had spread internationally by the 1930s. After the foundation of the International Basketball Federation 1932 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Basketball Equipment

BACKBOARD

The rigid rectangular board behind the rim.

BASKETBALL

The basket ball is an inflated sphere with an outer covering. It is 75 to 78cm in circumference and weighs 600 to 650 grams. It must be made of leather in official FIBA competition.

BASKET

The goal, made up of a horizontal and circular metal rim with a net hanging from it.. It is mounted 3.05 m above floor level.

SHOES

High-topped shoes.

SHOT CLOCK

The clock that counts down the maximum 24 seconds the offence is allowed to possess the ball before shooting.

FLOOR

Playing surface made of wodden parquet. Dimensions: 28m x 15 m