Concept in Definition ABC

Most sports are organized from national federations which, in turn, are grouped into a supranational entity. In the case of basketball, the acronym FIBA ​​refers to the international body that represents this sport. FIBA means Federation Basketball International and this name originally comes from French, as this organization was founded in the Swiss city of Geneva. Its origins date back to 1932, a time when the sport had not been professionalized and was practiced in its amateur modality.

Information of interest

FIBA's goal is to promote basketball around the world. In this sense, there are currently more than 200 national federations.

This non-profit organization has the responsibility to organize the most prestigious international competitions, such as the Men's and Women's World Cup, as well as the Olympic Games.

Like all international federations, FIBA ​​is in charge of establishing the regulation basketball official. Likewise, it acts as a supervisory entity in the transfer of players between the different countries and appoints the referees who will participate in major competitions.

At FIBA ​​there are specific areas related to sport for people with disability (The DIBF represents basketball for the deaf and the IWBF represents wheelchair basketball). Likewise, FIBA ​​is responsible for 3x3 basketball (in this modality it is played on a court with a single hoop).

Basketball has been an Olympic sport since the Berlin Olympics in 1936 (like many other sports, before its official incorporation it participated as an exhibition sport).

Historical origins

At the end of the 19th century, the Canadian priest James Naismith worked at the University of Springfield (Massachusetts) as a professor of what was then called physical Culture. Due to the low temperatures, the students could not practice sports outdoors. air free. This circumstance made him think in a game that could be played indoors.

In 1892 James Naismith drew up the first basketball regulations, consisting of 13 rules that continue to be fundamental in the practice of this sport. In 1896 the first match was held in its female form. The first balls were manufactured by the American company A.C Spalding and Brothers. The first baskets used by his inventor were made from boxes of peaches.

Photos: Fotolia - Wickerwood / Anna Kolesnikova