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HISTORY
ONE TO WATCH
BRITISH HOPE
VENUE
Invented in 1891 by Dr James Naismith,
a Canadian physical education teacher,
using peach baskets nailed to rafters as
goals. Just 13 years later, it was an
exhibition sport at the St Louis Olympics
LeBron James (USA)
One of the many megastars who will
form the latest incarnation of the
“Dream Team”. He won bronze with the
US squad in 2004 and gold in 2008
Luol Deng
The 6ft 9in Chicago Bulls small forward
was born in South Sudan, but started
playing in Brixton, South London. He
moved to the US at 14
Basketball arena
The temporary stadium in the Olympic
Park will host the preliminary matches.
Later matches will be played at North
Greenwich Arena
MOST MEDALS
1st, US
3rd, Yugoslavia
Guide to the Games
4
BASKETBALL
July 28 – Aug 12
COMPETITORS: 288
MEDAL EVENTS: 2
19
2
3
2nd, Soviet Union
4
4
4
1
5
GB
2
0
0
0
HOW IT WORKS
In both the men’s and women’s
tournaments, the twelve teams will
be split into two groups of six with
teams playing each other. The top
four in each group will then proceed
to the knockout stages
The game is five-a-side with another
seven players on the bench
Substitutions are unlimited and can
be made at any time
Olympic matches will
be four ten-minute
quarters
Half-time interval is
15 minutes
If scores are level at
the end of the fourth
quarter, five minutes of
overtime will be played
Coaches can call one-minute
time-outs to suspend play –
two time-outs available in the
first half, three in the second half
and one in overtime
Points scored by shooting the ball
through the hoop during regular play
A basket scores two points if the
player is inside the three-point line,
and three points outside
FOULS
Travelling
Not dribbling the ball while walking
or running
Double dribble
Holding the ball and then resuming
dribbling
Personal foul
Disruptive physical contact. Free
throw may be awarded
Technical foul
Free throw awarded
Unsportsmanlike foul
Free throw awarded
24.8cm
HEIGHTS
10ft
3.0m
Hoop
45cm
9ft
2.5m
8ft
Yao Ming (Houston Rockets
and China, retired 2011)
Margo Dydek
(tallest female player)
Luol Deng (GB)
Average NBA player*
7ft
2.0m
Standard
domestic door
6ft
Average British male
Earl Boykins, (the
Milwaukee Bucks point
guard is shortest player
in the NBA*)
Average
British female
1.5m
5ft
*US National Basketball
Association
POSITIONS
Point guard
The playmaker
in a team
4ft
Centre
The tallest playing
close to the basket
Small forward
Most versatile of forwards.
Often drives to the basket
to score two-pointers or
pick up fouls
2.0m
3ft
Free-throw line
Three-point line
2ft
1.5m
1ft
The key
To prevent “goal hanging” beneath
their opponents’ basket, players can
remain in this area for a maximum
three seconds at a time
Shooting guard
A team’s top
distance shooter
Power forward
Plays close to
the basket
Next week: Boxing
0m 0ft