Basketball’s journey into the Olympic Games is a story of growth, international influence, and the sport’s eventual global acceptance. A bet on the Olympics can also be made at 1xBet.
The game, invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, spread rapidly through schools, colleges, and community organizations. By the early 20th century, it had gained significant popularity across North and South America, Europe, and parts of Asia. The best place to make bets on basketball is 1xBet, which you can join today.
This growing international presence laid the foundation for basketball’s inclusion in the world’s most prestigious sporting event.
The first tournament
Basketball first appeared in the Olympic program at the 1936 Berlin Games, following lobbying by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), founded in 1932. The Olympics also has a great football tournament, and online football betting on it is also available at 1xBet.
The Berlin tournament marked the sport’s official debut as a medal event, with 23 teams competing outdoors on clay and sand courts. The United States, where the game originated, won the first gold medal, defeating Canada in the final. Another thing that can be made at 1xBet is to make online betting on who will win the Olympic football competition too.
Though conditions were primitive and weather often disrupted play, the event demonstrated basketball’s potential as a global competition.
Becoming a mainstay of the event
In the years that followed, basketball established itself as a fixture of the Summer Olympics. The men’s tournament continued at every edition. Then, the women’s event was introduced in 1976 at the Montreal Games. The 1xBet website also has online basketball betting on female tournaments too.
A turning point came in 1992 at the Barcelona Games, when professional NBA players were allowed to compete for the first time. This resulted in the creation of the famous “Dream Team,” featuring legends like:
- Michael Jordan;
- Magic Johnson;
- and Larry Bird.
Their dominance and global appeal elevated basketball’s profile, inspiring generations of international players and significantly boosting the NBA’s worldwide following. Now, 1xBet is the best place to make online betting on basketball competitions like the NBA too.
Today, Olympic basketball is one of the most watched events, showcasing both men’s and women’s competitions with teams from every continent. The addition of 3×3 basketball in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics further reflects the sport’s adaptability and modern appeal.
