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Latest update:
17/08/2008 15:27 +0300
Basketball:
ATHLETICS |
BASKETBALL |
BEACH
VOLLEYBALL|
GYMNASTICS |
JUDO |
MOUNTAIN BIKE
SAILING |
SHOOTING |
SWIMMING |
TABLE TENNIS
| TENNIS |
VOLLEYBALL
 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.
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.
Athletics |
Basketball |
Beach Volleyball
| Gymnastics |
Judo |
Mountain Bike |
Sailing |
Shooting |
Swimming |
Table Tennis
| Tennis |
Volleyball |
