The FIBA Basketball World Cup is organized every four years. Two teams will compete against each other. It is a worldwide game played all over the world. FIBA not only conducts the Basketball World Cup but also conducts the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The basketball spirit:
Basketball’s story begins in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, with the discovery of Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith as a replacement for football. Naismith invented the indoor game to retain sportspeople during the winter. The game spread fast and became very famous in the twentieth century, first in America and then in other parts of the world. He split his class of eighteen into two groups of nine players each and began teaching them the fundamentals of his new game. The first match was held in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1892.
The game was held in the gym with a soccer ball and a peach basket as the rings. Players need to put the ball in the fruit basket. Once the ball has fallen over, the game will be halted, and a ladder will be used to take the ball from the basket. Later on, the basket bottom was cut into a round shape. In 1906, metal hoops, nets, and boards were introduced. Then, a Spalding company in the 19th century officially made basketball for the game.
Related: List of World Cups around the world
Why was FIBA formed?
As basketball began, it spread widely to various countries and became popular among people. To formalize it and give proper regulation to the game, FIBA was started. FIBA is the Fédération International de Basketball (French word), or Federation International Basketball Association. The FIBA committee was started in 1932 to conduct tournaments and organize teams. Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, and Switzerland were members of the first FIBA organization formed in Geneva.
The first FIBA competition was held in Argentina in 1950. The U.S. team won the match, and Canada became the runner-up. Then, every four years, the FIBA tournament will take place. On August 29, 2019, Hamane Niang, President of FIBA Africa till 2014, was officially appointed the 13th FIBA President during the elective Congress in Beijing, China. At present, 213 countries are under the FIBA committee.
Related: Qatar World Cup 2022
Rules of basketball:
National team competitions are open to national federations that have held at least three FIBA-endorsed events in their territory in the 12 months preceding the defined cut-off date. For youth competitions, players must meet the basic citizenship requirements and be of the relevant age.
Basketball hoop heights are often 10 feet (3 meters). The venue measures 91.86 feet long and 49.21 feet wide. There can only be five players on the floor at once. A minimum of four players may play a match. To begin a game, they must have at least four players. Once a player has two hands on the ball, they cannot dribble or proceed with the ball and must pass or throw it. A player may not hold the ball for more than 5 seconds or dribble for more than 5 seconds while being heavily protected.
The basketball game is divided into four ten-minute periods. Teams play one way, then the other for the first two phases. There is a two-minute break between the first and second periods and a 15-minute break between the third and fourth periods.
Related: The Athletic World Cup
Which country’s team is the best in FIBA?
Four teams have won 36 of the 54 medals: the United States (12), Yugoslavia (10), the Soviet Union (8), and Brazil (6). Since the first world championship featured ten teams, the field has grown tremendously, with the 2019 edition featuring a track of 32 top teams worldwide.
Who will be the next host of FIBA?
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be held in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, with the final match taking place in the Philippine capital city of Manila. Eighty national teams compete for a spot in the 32-team game over six World Cup qualifying teams. Matches will take place from November 2021 to February 2023. Keep your fingers crossed for your favourite team to win the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
