FIBA World Championship Facts, Stats, Records
FIBA World Championship is an international basketball tournament, organized by International Basketball Federation(FIBA). The championship is held at a regular interval of four years,both for men and women.The proposal of organizing a world championship was agreed in a meeting held in London,during summer olympics of 1948.The first FIBA world championship was organized in 1950. Argentina was the country given the task of organizing the inaugural world campionship and Buenos Aires was the location selected for the competition.Argentina emerged as the winner of first championship,while United States got silver medal and Chile managed to get bronze medal.
Qualification system of championship
Various qualification systems have been applied for the selection of competing teams.
- In the first championship,10 teams were asked to participate,3 top teams from previous olympics,2 each from South America,Europe Asia and one host nation,but after the refusal of Asian teams,2 new teams were invited as a replacement.
- The best teams from continental championships and the host nation were considered eligible for the competition.Besides Europe and Americas,the continental championships were not conducted regularly,as a result,initially most of the teams were selected from Europe and America.
- 13 teams participated in the championship from 1959 to 1970.
- In 1986,the teams were expanded to 24.
- From 1990 to 2002,the teams were reduced to 16.
In 2006, a new qualification system was introduced.24 teams were selected on following basis:
- 6 teams from Europe
- 4 teams from Americas
- 3 teams from Asia
- 3 teams from Africa
- 2 teams from Oceania
- 4 wild cards
- 1 preceding Olympic champion
- 1 host nation
This system was also used in 2010 championship.
The format of the championship
Since 1950,various formats are used in championship.
- From 1954 to 1974,winners were decided on record basis,the teams with most points in the final round were awarded the medals.
- From 1959 to 1982,the host nation was promoted directly to the final round,in 1974 and 1978,the defending champion also went direct to the final round without playing initial stages.In 1986,FIBA made it compulsory for every team to play preliminary round for further advancement.
- Since 2006,teams play a round of 16 after the completion of preliminary round,then quarterfinals,semifinals and final is played.
In FIBA world championship United States won 4 gold medals,the most by any team.
Yugoslavia and Soviet Union both are on second place with 3 gold medals each.
Related posts
- FIBA World Championship - Some Interesting Records
- FIBA World Championship - MVP’s and Top Scorers
- FIBA World Championship - Important Results and Statistics
- FIBA World Championship, A Glance at Past (1950-2010)
- FIBA World Championship - Hosts and Venues
- International Basketball Federation (FIBA)
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