1.
Kaunas
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Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the centre of a county in Trakai Municipality of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413, in the Russian Empire it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915. It became the temporary capital city in Europe during the interwar period. Now it is the capital of Kaunas County, the seat of the Kaunas city municipality and it is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas. Kaunas is located at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris, and near the Kaunas Reservoir, the citys name is of Lithuanian origins and most likely derives from a personal name. Before Lithuania regained independence, the city was known in English as Kovno, the traditional Slavicized form of its name, the Polish name is Kowno. An earlier Russian name was Ковно Kovno, although Каунас Kaunas has been used since 1940, the Yiddish name is Kovne, while its names in German include Kaunas and Kauen. The city and its elderates also have names in other languages, an old legend claims that Kaunas was established by the Romans in ancient times. These Romans were supposedly led by a patrician named Palemon, who had three sons, Barcus, Kunas and Sperus, Palemon fled from Rome because he feared the mad Emperor Nero. Palemon, his sons and other relatives travelled all the way to Lithuania, after Palemons death, his sons divided his land. Kunas got the land where Kaunas now stands and he built a fortress near the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, and the city that grew up there was named after him. There is also a region in the vicinity named Palemonas. On 30 June 1993, the coat of arms of Kaunas city was established by a special presidential decree. The coat of arms features a white aurochs with a cross between his horns, set against a deep red background. The aurochs is the heraldic symbol of the city since 1400. The heraldic seal of Kaunas, introduced in the early 15th century during the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas, is the oldest city heraldic seal known in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The current emblem was the result of study and discussion on the part of the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission. An aurochs has replaced a wisent, depicted in the Soviet era emblem, blazon, Gules, an aurochs passant guardant argent ensigned with a cross Or between his horns
2.
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
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The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, also known as Soviet Lithuania or Lithuania was a republic of the Soviet Union. It existed from 1940 to 1990, between 1941 and 1944, the German invasion of the Soviet Union caused its de facto dissolution. However, with the retreat of the Germans in 1944–1945, Soviet hegemony was re-established, on 18 May 1989, the Lithuanian SSR declared state sovereignty within its borders during perestroika. On 11 March 1990, the Republic of Lithuania was declared to be re-established as an independent state, Soviet Union itself recognized Lithuanian independence on 6 September 1991. There had been an attempt to establish a Soviet government in Lithuania by the Bolshevik Red Army in 1918–1919. The Lithuanian SSR was first proclaimed on 16 December 1918, by the revolutionary government of Lithuania. The Lithuanian SSR was supported by the Red Army, but it failed to create a de facto government with any support as the Council of Lithuania had successfully done earlier. It has been suggested that the failure to conquer Poland in the Polish–Soviet War prevented the Soviets from invading Lithuania, the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, stated that Lithuania was to be included into the German sphere of influence. However soon after World War II began in September 1939, and this was granted in exchange for Lublin and parts of the Warsaw province of Poland, originally ascribed to the Soviet Union, but by that time already occupied by German forces. Following the 1940 Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania and subsequent invasion of 15 June 1940, before doing so, in accordance with the Lithuanian constitution, he turned over his duties on a provisional basis to Prime Minister Antanas Merkys. The day after Smetonas departure, Merkys announced he had deposed Smetona and had taken over the presidency in his own right, on 17 June, at the behest of the Soviets, Merkys appointed a left-wing journalist, Justas Paleckis, as prime minister. Merkys then himself resigned, making Paleckis acting president as well, for all intents and purposes, Lithuania had lost its independence. Paleckis appointed a Communist-dominated peoples government with Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius as prime minister and this government dissolved the Fourth Seimas and announced elections for a Peoples Seimas on 14 July. Voters were selected with a single list provided by the Union of the Working People of Lithuania, on 3 August, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR accepted the petition and admitted the Lithuanian SSR as the 14th republic of the Soviet Union. Lithuania now maintains that since Smetona never resigned, Merkys takeover of the presidency was illegal, Lithuania was subsequently invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany in June 1941. With the 1944 Soviet Baltic offensive, Soviet rule was re-established in July 1944, after both Soviet occupations, mass deportation of the Lithuanians into gulags and other forced settlements ensued. The United States refused to recognize the annexation of Lithuania or the other Baltic States, by the Soviet Union, all legal ties of the Soviet Unions sovereignty over the republic were cut as Lithuania declared the restitution of its independence. The Soviet Union claimed that this declaration was illegal, as Lithuania had to follow the process of secession mandated in the Soviet Constitution if it wanted to leave
3.
Soviet Union
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The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was nominally a union of national republics, but its government. The Soviet Union had its roots in the October Revolution of 1917 and this established the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and started the Russian Civil War between the revolutionary Reds and the counter-revolutionary Whites. In 1922, the communists were victorious, forming the Soviet Union with the unification of the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian, following Lenins death in 1924, a collective leadership and a brief power struggle, Joseph Stalin came to power in the mid-1920s. Stalin suppressed all opposition to his rule, committed the state ideology to Marxism–Leninism. As a result, the country underwent a period of rapid industrialization and collectivization which laid the foundation for its victory in World War II and postwar dominance of Eastern Europe. Shortly before World War II, Stalin signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact agreeing to non-aggression with Nazi Germany, in June 1941, the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, opening the largest and bloodiest theater of war in history. Soviet war casualties accounted for the highest proportion of the conflict in the effort of acquiring the upper hand over Axis forces at battles such as Stalingrad. Soviet forces eventually captured Berlin in 1945, the territory overtaken by the Red Army became satellite states of the Eastern Bloc. The Cold War emerged by 1947 as the Soviet bloc confronted the Western states that united in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949. Following Stalins death in 1953, a period of political and economic liberalization, known as de-Stalinization and Khrushchevs Thaw, the country developed rapidly, as millions of peasants were moved into industrialized cities. The USSR took a lead in the Space Race with Sputnik 1, the first ever satellite, and Vostok 1. In the 1970s, there was a brief détente of relations with the United States, the war drained economic resources and was matched by an escalation of American military aid to Mujahideen fighters. In the mid-1980s, the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, sought to reform and liberalize the economy through his policies of glasnost. The goal was to preserve the Communist Party while reversing the economic stagnation, the Cold War ended during his tenure, and in 1989 Soviet satellite countries in Eastern Europe overthrew their respective communist regimes. This led to the rise of strong nationalist and separatist movements inside the USSR as well, in August 1991, a coup détat was attempted by Communist Party hardliners. It failed, with Russian President Boris Yeltsin playing a role in facing down the coup. On 25 December 1991, Gorbachev resigned and the twelve constituent republics emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union as independent post-Soviet states
4.
1986 NBA draft
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The 1986 NBA draft was held on June 17,1986. This draft holds the record for the most players who debuted in the NBA. There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft, most notable was the death of highly touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics and his death was ruled an overdose that resulted from the abuse of the drug cocaine. Other problems involving drugs hampered the careers of Chris Washburn, Roy Tarpley, while a number of first-round selections were unable to make an impact in the league, this draft did feature a number of talented second-round selections. Dennis Rodman, who one of the leading defenders and rebounders in NBA history, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2011. Mark Price, Kevin Duckworth, and Jeff Hornacek also went on to have successful careers, three others – Johnny Newman, Nate McMillan, and David Wingate – had long, productive careers as role players. This draft contained two exceptional international players, both of whom had shortened careers for unusual reasons, third-round selection Dražen Petrović was coming off an All-Star caliber fourth season when he was killed in an automobile accident in 1993. He has since been elected to both the Naismith Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame, the other, Arvydas Sabonis, was not permitted to play in the United States because of the dangerous political climate in the Soviet Union. He won two Olympic medals before his arrival in the NBA—a gold in 1988 with the USSR, after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Sabonis had a very successful career in Europe before finally joining the Portland Trail Blazers in 1995. Sabonis had lost much of his mobility by the time he joined the team because of a string of knee and he finished second in both the Sixth Man Award and Rookie of the Year voting, after the 1995–96 season, he won a second Olympic bronze medal with Lithuania. He played seven seasons with Portland before returning to his homeland of Lithuania where he finished his career, Sabonis entered the FIBA Hall in 2010 and the Naismith Hall in 2011. This draft is known for the number of players who made important contributions to the sport of basketball outside of the court. For example, Nate McMillan had a successful run with the Seattle SuperSonics as a player and then as head coach. Scott Skiles was the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and also the first coach to lead the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs in the post-Jordan era. Larry Krystkowiak, a former Bucks head coach, was hired in April 2011 as the new coach at the University of Utah. John Salley won four championship rings with three different NBA teams before becoming one of the hosts of The Best Damn Sports Show Period on Fox Sports Network. Jeff Hornacek would also be an assistant head coach for the Utah Jazz for two seasons before accepting a job as the head coach for the Phoenix Suns in the 2013–14 NBA season
5.
Portland Trail Blazers
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The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Western Conference Northwest Division. The team played its games in the Memorial Coliseum before moving to Moda Center in 1995. The team has advanced to the NBA Finals three times, winning the NBA championship once in 1977 and their other NBA Finals appearances were in 1990 and 1992. The team has qualified for the playoffs in 31 seasons of their 45-season existence, including a streak of 21 straight appearances from 1983 through 2003, the second longest streak in NBA history. The Trail Blazers 31 playoff appearances rank third in the NBA only behind the Los Angeles Lakers, six Hall of Fame players have played for the Trail Blazers. Bill Walton is the franchises most decorated player, he was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1977, four Blazer rookies have won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Sports promoter Harry Glickman sought a National Basketball Association franchise for Portland as far back as 1955 when he proposed two new teams, the other to be located in Los Angeles. To raise the money for the $3.7 million admission tax, Glickman associated himself to real estate magnates Robert Schmertz of New Jersey, Larry Weinberg of Los Angeles and Herman Sarkowsky of Seattle. Two weeks later, on February 24, team management held a contest to select the teams name, the most popular choice was Pioneers, but that name was excluded from consideration as it was already used by sports teams at Portlands Lewis & Clark College. The name Trail Blazers received 172 entries, and was selected by the judging panel. Despite initial mixed response, the Trail Blazers name, often shortened to just Blazers, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves, the Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team, under coach Rolland Todd. Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks led the team in its years. During that span, the team had three coaches, team executive Stu Inman also served as coach. The team won the first pick in the NBA draft twice during that span, in 1972, the team drafted LaRue Martin with the number one pick, and in 1974 the team selected Bill Walton from UCLA. In 1976, the ABA–NBA merger saw those two rival leagues join forces, four ABA teams joined the NBA, the remaining teams were dissolved and their players distributed among the remaining NBA squads in a dispersal draft. The Trail Blazers selected Maurice Lucas in the dispersal draft and that summer, they also hired Jack Ramsay as head coach. The two moves, coupled with the stellar play, led Portland to several firsts, winning record, playoff appearance
6.
Center (basketball)
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The center, also known as the five or the big man, is one of the five positions in a regular basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a deal of strength. The tallest player to ever be drafted in the NBA was the 78 Yasutaka Okayama from Japan, the tallest players to ever play in the NBA, at 77, are centers Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol. Standing at 72, Margo Dydek is the tallest player to have played in the WNBA. The center is considered a component for a successful team. But recently, the NBA has turned into a point guard league, great centers have been the foundation for most of the dynasties in both the NBA and NCAA. In the 1960s, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain further transformed basketball by combining height with a level of athleticism than previous centers. Following the retirement of George Mikan, the rivalry of the two big men came to dominate the NBA, many of the records set by these two players have endured today. Most notably, Chamberlain and Russell hold the top eighteen season averages for rebounds, Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to two consecutive NCAA Championships. He joined the Boston Celtics and helped make them one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history, Russell revolutionized defensive strategy with his shot-blocking, rebounding and physical man-to-man defense. His principal rival, Wilt Chamberlain, listed at 71,275 pounds, Chamberlain played college ball for the Kansas Jayhawks, leading them to the 1957 title game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Although the Jayhawks lost by one point in overtime, Chamberlain was named the tournaments Most Outstanding Player. He also won seven scoring titles, eleven rebounding titles, and four regular season Most Valuable Player awards, including the distinction, in 1960, stronger than any player of his era, he was usually capable of scoring and rebounding at will. Most notably, Chamberlain is the player in NBA history to average more than 50 points in a season. He also holds the NBAs all-time records for rebounding average, rebounds in a single game, in contrast to the Celtics dynasty of the 1960s, the 1970s were a decade of parity in the NBA, with eight different champions and no back-to-back winners. At the college level, the UCLA Bruins, under Coach John Wooden, built the greatest dynasty in NCAA basketball history, UCLA had already won two consecutive titles in 1964 and 1965 with teams that pressed and emphasized guard play. After not winning in 1966, Woodens teams changed their style when Lew Alcindor became eligible and he led UCLA to three championships-in 1967,68 and 69-while winning the first Naismith College Player of the Year Award. During his college career, the NCAA enacted a ban on dunking primarily because of Alcindors dominant use of the shot
7.
CB Valladolid
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Club Baloncesto Valladolid, S. A. D. was a professional basketball team based in Valladolid, Castile-Leon, Spain. CB Valladolid was member of the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto, famous players that have played for the team include Arvydas Sabonis, Oscar Schmidt, John Williams, Ed OBannon and Panagiotis Vasilopoulos. In 2015, the club was dissolved due to financial problems and it was replaced by the CB Ciudad de Valladolid, created in summer 2015 by the former player Mike Hansen. CB Valladolid has received diverse trade names along its history
8.
Real Madrid Baloncesto
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Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team that was founded in 1931, as a division of the Real Madrid C. F. multi sports club. They play domestically in the Liga ACB, and internationally in the EuroLeague, as successful as the Real Madrid athletic associations football club, the basketball team has been the most successful of its peers in both Spain and Europe. The Real Madrid squads have won a record 33 Spanish League championships and they have also won a record 27 Spanish Cup titles, a record 9 EuroLeague Championships, and a record 4 Saporta Cups. Madrid has also won a record 5 Intercontinental Cups, and they have also won 3 Triple Crowns. Some of the star players over the years have included, Arvydas Sabonis, Dražen Petrović, Dražen Dalipagić, Mirza Delibašić, Juan Antonio Corbalán, Fernando Martín. Real Madrid also has a basketball team that plays in the amateur level Spanish 4th-tier Liga EBA. Its early dominance in Spain has resulted in another cache of 33 domestic league and 27 cup trophies. Madrid downed Milano the 1984 Cup Winners Cup on free throws by Brian Jackson, Madrid added a 1988 Korać Cup title against Cibona, and a 1992 Saporta Cup trophy against PAOK on a buzzer-beating jumper by Rickey Brown. It was not until Sabonis arrived in Madrid when Real won its last Euroleague title in 1995, Madrid still won the 1997 Saporta Cup title against Verona, but no more European trophies came in the next decade. Madrid still found success at home, winning Spanish League titles in 2000 and 2005 and it all changed in 2007 when Joan Plaza was promoted to head coach. Moreover, Madrid won the Spanish regular season and stayed strong in Palacio Vistalegre to lift its 30th league trophy, in Pablo Lasos era Real Madrid Baloncesto still found the success. New Spanish top tier players like Sergio Rodríguez and Rudy Fernández were acquired, also ACB Rising Star winner Nikola Mirotić mixed with Sergio Llull and Felipe Reyes, to give Real Madrid a strong home grown core. The team gave Real Madrid Baloncesto 5 Copa del Reys,3 Spanish Super Cups,3 Liga ACBs,1 EuroLeague, on May 17,2015, after waiting 20 years to win another EuroLeague championship, Real Madrid won the 2015 Euroleague against Olympiacos. Madrids Andrés Nocioni was named the Final Four MVP and this title was called La Novena. Following the EuroLeague title, the 2014–15 ACB season was also won, because Real also won the Cup and Supercup that season, it won its first Quadruble crown. On September 27,2015,34 years after their last FIBA Intercontinental Cup title, Real Madrid won their fifth FIBA Intercontinental Cup trophy, Sergio Llull was named MVP of this tournament. Fronton Fiesta Alegre, before the team played in not domed courts, colegio Maravillas, used for home games during the construction of the new pavilion. 3 Trofeo Teresa Herrera,1987,1989,1991,2 Trofeos Open de París, 1961/62, 1962/63
9.
Euroscar
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The Euroscar European Player of the Year Award is an annual basketball award given to the years best male European basketball player. Its name is a portmanteau of Europe and Oscar, and the award is referred to as European basketball’s Oscar”. Any player with European citizenship is eligible for the award, regardless of his current club, the award is judged on the basis of both sports club and national team performances and accomplishments. The honor is presented the January after the year it is awarded for. As of 2017, the most recent winner is Serbian player Miloš Teodosić, lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis and German power forward Dirk Nowitzki hold the record for most wins with six each. The Euroscar is decided upon by a committee composed of managers, coaches. The award is presented by the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport and it is one of the two main player of the year awards that any European basketball player can currently receive, along with Eurobasket. coms All-Europe Player of the Year. Previously, there was also the official FIBA Europe Mens Player of the Year Award, the Euroscar was first awarded in 1979, and 21 of the first 23 winners were born in the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia. Thereafter, Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Pau Gasol of Spain won ten times between them, and as of 2016 an Eastern European has won the award twice since 2002. The early winners of the Euroscar played primarily for EuroLeague clubs, as of 2015, three players have won five or more Euroscars, Sabonis, Nowitzki, and Toni Kukoč. Nowitzki holds the record for most consecutive wins with five, seven Euroscar winners have been inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, Tkachenko, Sabonis, Petrović, Dražen Dalipagić, Dino Meneghin, Dragan Kićanović and Nikos Galis. Sabonis, Petrović, Dalipagić, Galis and Meneghin are also in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one pair of brothers have each won the award, the Spaniards Pau and Marc Gasol. As of the 2016–17 basketball season, the Gasols, Tony Parker, as of 2015, Nowitzki is also the only player to win the Euroscar Award and the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, albeit in different seasons. Kukoč, Nowitzki, Parker and Pau Gasol all won NBA titles in their Euroscar-winning years, Kukoč, when a winner has played for more than one club team in the calendar year of his award, all are listed
10.
USSR Premier Basketball League
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The USSR Premier Basketball League, or Soviet Union Premier Basketball League, was the first-tier mens professional basketball league in the former Soviet Union. The league existed from 1923 to 1991, as the top basketball league of the Soviet Union. In the years 1924,1928,1934,1935,1936,1956,1959,1963, and 1967, CSKA Moscow was the leagues most successful club, having won the leagues championship 24 times, including winning 9 consecutive championships, from 1976 to 1984. The league featured the players of the senior mens Soviet Union national basketball team, the league exists in a similar format today, as the VTB United League. Although, the VTB United League can include clubs from countries that were not a part of the Soviet Union, 1923–24 to 1935–36 Soviet Union Regional League 1936–37 to 1990–91 Soviet Union National League.1991 to 1992. CIS National League 1923–24, Team Moscow, Belyaev, A. Kovalev, S. Pashkov, V. Strepiheev, 1927–28, Team Moscow, S. Vorobyov, A. Gusev, M. Medvedev, N. Strokin, K. Travin. 1933–34, Team Leningrad, F. Hostilius, Krasovskii, S. Kuznetsov, M. Morozov, P. Osipov, Vn. 1934–35, Team Moscow, E. Bokunyaev, V. Gorokhov, Zimin, A. Lobanov, M. Semichastny, J. Titov, K. Travin, A. Tolkachev. 1935–36, Team Leningrad, F. Hostilius, A. Elenskiy, Kuznetsov, V. Kurkov, M. Sverckov, G. Tishinskiy. 1936–37, Dynamo Moscow, V. Gorokhov, A. Grigoriev, V. Dmitriev, Alexander Zaitsev, A. Zinin, Rumyantsev, alekseev, Belyaev, A. Lobanov, V. Kiselev, Romishevsky, Y. Abramov, V. Zhebokritsky, Zlobin, V. Kondrashov, V. Razzhivin, Rogov, 1943–44, Armia Tbilisi, N. Dzhordzhkiya, L. Dzekonsky, Ermakov, G. Zahlyan, B. Alekseev, Bajkov, Grebenshchikov, V. Kudryashov, S. Kuznetsov, 1945–46, Armia Tbilisi, G. Akhvlediani, Vachadze A. G. Gupalov, L. Dzekonsky, N. Djordjikia, S. Oganezov, B. 1946–47, Žalgiris, S. Butautas, A. Vilimas, V. Dzenis, kilšauskas, J. Lagunavičius, V. Majorovas, K. Petkevičius, V. Sercevičius, V. Kulakauskas. 1947–48, Dynamo Moscow, G. Bajkov, V. Vlasov, V. Kolpakov, A. Konev, Kogan, 1948–49, Tartu Ülikool, W. Kiivet, H. Kreevald, I. Lysov, Rekker G. H. Rusak, E. Ehavveer, Õun Yu, H. Kruus. 1949–50, Dinamo Tbilisi, D. Godziashvili, N. Djordjikia, V. Zhgenti, S. Tortladze, Intskirveli L. S. Korkashvili, O. Korkia, A. Meshi, D. Nijaradze, G. Rukhadze. Balakauskas, G. Butautas, J. Lagunavičius, A. Nemcevičius, K. Petkevičius, Z. Sabulis, V. Sercevičius, L. Tendzegolskis, V. Timleris. Alekseev, V. Antonov, G. Gupalov, E. Kazakov, A. Konev, A. Moiseev, D. Osipov, G. Silins, S. Tarasov
11.
FIBA Intercontinental Cup
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The World Cup for Clubs has been contended mainly by the champions of the continents and/or world geographical regions that are of the highest basketball levels. The league champions of the NBA, which would be considered the top club from the North American zone, through 2015, the champions of Europes top-tier level EuroLeague participated in the tournament. In 2016, the champions of Latin Americas top-tier level FIBA Americas League, FIBA announced plans to expand the tournament to include the champion teams from the FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup, the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the NBL, and possibly the NBA in the future. The FIBA Intercontinental Cup competition was organized between the years 1966 and 1987. The tournament had its origins with a friendly test game in São Paulo in 1965, the test game was contested by the South American Club Championship champions Corinthians, and the FIBA European Champions Cup champions, Real Madrid. Corinthians won the test game by a score of 118 to 109, after the success of the test tournament, the first official tournament took place in the year 1966. In 1973, the competition adopted the name FIBA Intercontinental Cup William Jones, to honor the general of FIBA. After that tournament however, the competition was succeeded by the McDonalds Championship, the McDonalds Championship however, was not an official tournament like the Intercontinental Cup. In 2016, the tournament changed format, with the champion of Europes then 3rd-tier level league and this change was done because FIBA refused to allow the EuroLeague champions to participate in the tournament, due to the ongoing FIBA–Euroleague Basketball controversy. The tournament is also referred to as the FIBA Intercontinental Cup of Clubs, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup unofficially began with a friendly test game in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1965. The game was played by the champions of the South American Club Championship, Corinthians. It was held at the Ginásio Principal, Corinthians won the game 118 to 109. Due to the test tournaments great success, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup was made an annual tournament by FIBA. The first official FIBA Intercontinental Cup tournament was held the following year. FIBA Intercontinental Cup official website FIBA Intercontinental Cup History Basquetepinheirense FIBA World Cup FIBA World Cup of Clubs FIBA World Cup of Clubs
12.
EuroBasket 1985
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The 1985 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1985, was the 24th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship, held by FIBA Europe. It took place from 5 to 16 June 1985 in West Germany, the Soviet Union defeated Czechoslovakia in the final to win its fourteenth title. A total of teams qualified for the tournament. To the top eight teams from the tournament, four more teams were granted berths via a qualifying tournament. The top four teams each group advance to the quarterfinals. The winners in the semifinals advance to the Final. The losers from the quarterfinals compete in a separate bracket to define places 5th through 8th in the final standings. The fifth and sixth teams from each group competed in another bracket to define places 9th through 12th in the final standings, times given below are in Central European Time. 1985 European Championship for Men, FIBA. com
13.
Liga ACB
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The Liga ACB, known as Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league system. A total of 48 teams have competed in Liga ACB since its inception, six teams have been crowned champions, with Real Madrid winning the title a record 33 times and FC Barcelona 18 times. Real Madrid dominated the championship from the 1950s through the 1970s when was organized by the Spanish Basketball Federation, in more recent years, Baskonia has joined a coalition of now three teams dominating Liga ACB alongside Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Liga ACB is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world. The competition format follows the usual double round-robin format, during the course of a season, which lasts from October to May, each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 32 games. Teams receive one point for a win, and no points for a loss, teams are ranked by total points, with the eight highest-ranked clubs at the end of the season plays the playoffs and the winner of the playoffs is crowned champion. A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Liga ACB and the LEB Oro and these three teams were CB Guadalajara and CB Cornellà in 1993 and CB Cajabilbao in 1994. Since 2012, due to the crisis that started in 2008. This fact started a discussion about the requirements of the ACB in order to promote, for clubs that promote and would make their debut in the ACB demands, An arena with a minimum capacity of 5,000 seats. For clubs that come back to the league after a promotion, a deposit of €1, 7m that would be returned in case of relegation to LEB Oro. In case of a new promotion, this deposit is required to be restored, the conversion into a Sociedad Anónima Deportiva if the club remains in Liga ACB after its first season. In 2012, Iberostar Canarias and Menorca Bàsquet achieved the promotion to ACB, however, Canarias finally played in ACB after buying the berth in the league of Lucentum Alicante, previously sold to the association. In 2013, neither CB Atapuerca, Ford Burgos by sponsorship reasons, the seconds resigned also to play in the second league and joined the fifth division. In 2014 and 2015, CB Tizona, also Ford Burgos by sponsorship reasons, after its second failed promotion, the third in the city of Burgos, the club sued the Association and this one accused them of distorting the reality. However, ACB would admit Ourense for the 2016–17 season if it fulfill the requirements regardless of their position in the 2015–16 LEB Oro season. On June 2016, the two promoted teams from LEB Oro resigned to promote to the 2016–17 ACB season and requested to the ACB their sign in before the 2017–18 season, the second million delayed on the dates agreed between the club and ACB. A deposit of €1, 6m that would be returned in case of relegation to LEB Oro, in case of a new promotion, this deposit is required to be restored. The conversion into a Sociedad Anónima Deportiva before the start of their season in Liga ACB
14.
EuroLeague
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Introduced in 2000, the competition replaced the FIBA EuroLeague, which had been run by FIBA since 1958. For Euroleague Basketball records purposes, the FIBA European Champions Cup and EuroLeague are considered to be the same competition, with the change of name being simply a re-branding. EuroLeague is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world, with an average attendance of 8,184. The EuroLeague title has been won by 20 different clubs,13 of which have won the more than once. The FIBA European Champions Cup was originally established by FIBA and it operated under its umbrella from 1958 until the summer of 2000 and that was when Euroleague Basketball was created. FIBA had never trademarked the EuroLeague name, even though it had used that name for the competition since 1996. Euroleague Basketball simply appropriated the name, and since FIBA had no recourse to do anything about it, it was forced to find a new name for its championship series. Thus, the following 2000–2001 season started with 2 separate top European professional club competitions, the FIBA SuproLeague. The rift in European professional club basketball initially showed no signs of letting up, in May 2001, Europe had two continental champions, Maccabi of the FIBA SuproLeague and Kinder Bologna of the Euroleague. The leaders of both organizations realized the need to come up with a unified competition, although only a year old, Euroleague Basketball negotiated from a position of strength and dictated proceedings. FIBA essentially had no choice but to agree to Euroleague Basketballs terms, as a result, European club competition was fully integrated under Euroleague Basketballs umbrella and teams that competed in the FIBA SuproLeague during the 2000–01 season joined it as well. In essence, the authority in European professional basketball was divided over club-country lines, FIBA stayed in charge of national team competitions, while Euroleague Basketball took over the European professional club competitions. From that point on, FIBAs Korać Cup and Saporta Cup competitions lasted only one season before folding. In November 2015, Euroleague Basketball and IMG agreed on 10-year joint venture, both Euroleague Basketball and IMG will manage the commercial operation, and the management of all global rights covering both media and marketing. The deal was worth €630 million euros guaranteed, with projected revenues reaching €900 million euros, FIBA era, FIBA European Champions Cup, FIBA European League, FIBA EuroLeague, FIBA SuproLeague, Euroleague Basketball era, Euroleague. *There were two separate competitions during the 2000–01 season, the SuproLeague, which was organized by FIBA, and the Euroleague, which was organized by Euroleague Basketball. On 26 July 2010, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague Basketball announced a €15 million strategic agreement to sponsor the top European basketball competition across the globe, according to the agreement, starting with the 2010–11 season, the top European competition would be named Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball. Similarly, the EuroLeague Final Four would be named the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four and this title partnership was set to run for five seasons, with the option of extending it to an additional five
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EuroLeague Final Four MVP
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The EuroLeague Final Four Most Valuable Player Award is presented to the basketball player who has exhibited the most exceptional play during the EuroLeague Final Four. The award often goes to the best player on the European-wide top-tier level EuroLeagues best team and it is generally considered to be the most prestigious individual award in European professional club basketball. The Final Four MVP award was first given at the end of the 1987–88 season, prior to the 1987–88 season, the Top Scorer of the EuroLeague Finals was noted. However, an actual MVP was not named until the first EuroLeague Final Four of the era was held. From the 1958 to 1986–87 seasons, the Top Scorer of the EuroLeague Finals was noted, however, there was no actual MVP award given. Since the end of the 1987–88 season, when the first EuroLeague Final Four was held, an MVP is named at the conclusion of each Final Four. † The 2000–01 season was a year, with the best European teams splitting into two different major leagues, The SuproLeague, held by FIBA, and the EuroLeague, held by Euroleague Basketball. That seasons EuroLeague Basketball tournament did not end with a Final Four tournament, instead, it ended with a 5-game playoff series. So, Manu Ginóbili was named the EuroLeague Finals MVP that season, europa Euroleague official webpage InterBasket Euroleague Basketball Forum TalkBasket Euroleague Basketball Forum Euroleagues Youtube Channel Euroleagues Youtube Channel
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NBA All-Rookie Team
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The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team, the All-Rookie Team is generally composed of two five-man lineups, a first team and a second team. The players each receive two points for each first team vote and one point for second team vote. The top five players with the highest point total make the first team, in the case of a tie at the fifth position of either team, the roster is expanded. If the first team consists of six due to a tie. Ties have occurred several times, most recently in 2012, when Kawhi Leonard, Iman Shumpert, no respect is given to positions. For example, the first team had four forwards, and one guard in 2008, while the first team had four centers, nine All-Rookie Team members have won both the Rookie of the Year Award and the Most Valuable Player Award during their careers. Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld are the players to accomplish this feat in the same season. National Basketball Association portal General Specific
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Rebound (basketball)
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In basketball, a rebound, colloquially referred to as a board, is a statistic awarded to a player who retrieves the ball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds are also given to a player who tips in a shot on his teams offensive end. Rebounds in basketball are a part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made. A rebound can be grabbed by either a player or a defensive player. The majority of rebounds are defensive because the team on defense tends to be in position to recover missed shots. Offensive rebounds give the team another opportunity to score whether right away or by resetting the offense. A block is not considered a rebound, a ball does not need to actually rebound off the rim or backboard for a rebound to be credited. Rebounds are credited after any missed shot, including air balls, if a player takes a shot and misses and the ball bounces on the ground before someone picks it up, then the person who picks up the ball is credited for a rebound. Rebounds are credited to the first player that gains possession of the ball or to the player that successfully deflects the ball into the basket for a score. A rebound is credited to a team when it gains possession of the ball after any missed shot that is not cleared by a single player, great rebounders tend to be tall and strong. Because height is so important, most rebounds are made by centers and power forwards, the lack of height can sometimes be compensated by the strength to box out taller players away from the ball to capture the rebound. For example, Charles Barkley once led the league in rebounding despite usually being much shorter than his counterparts, also, some shorter guards can be excellent rebounders as well such as point guard Jason Kidd who led the New Jersey Nets in rebounding for several years. Great rebounders must also have a sense of timing and positioning. Great leaping ability is an important asset, but not absolutely necessary, players such as Larry Bird and Moses Malone were excellent rebounders, but were never known for their leaping ability. Bird has stated, Most rebounds are taken below the rim, the action can also be called blocking out. A team can be boxed out by players using this technique to stop the other team from rebounding. Because fighting for a rebound can be physical, rebounding is often regarded as grunt work or a hustle play. Overly aggressive boxing out or preventing being boxed out can lead to personal fouls, statistics of a players rebounds per game or rebounding average measure a players rebounding effectiveness by dividing the number of rebounds by the number of games played
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Basketball at the Summer Olympics
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Basketball at the Summer Olympics has been a sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a sport, basketball was held as a demonstration event in 1904. Womens basketball has played in the Summer Olympics since its first appearance in 1976. United States womens teams have won 8 titles out of the 10 tournaments in which they competed, besides the United States, Argentina is the only nation still in existence who has won either the mens or womens tournament. The Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and the Unified Team are the countries no longer in existence who have won the tournament, Basketball was invented by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. Within a few decades, the new game became popular throughout the United States as an indoor sport, the popularity spread overseas and the International Basketball Federation was organized in 1932 in Geneva, Switzerland. Thanks in part to the effort of Phog Allen—a Kansas Jayhawks collegiate coach—the first Olympic basketball tournament was organized in the 1936 Olympics at Berlin on outdoor tennis courts, dr. Naismith presented the medals to the top three teams. According to the Olympic rules of time, all of the competitors were amateurs. The tournament was held indoors for the first time in 1948, the American team proved its dominance, winning the first seven Olympic tournaments until 1968, without losing a single game. The United States winning streak ended in 1972 under highly controversial circumstances, after the game, the American team refused to accept the silver medal, and the medal has been kept in IOC possession ever since. The Americans reclaimed the gold medal in 1976, with Yugoslavia, in 1980, with the Americans absence due to the boycott, Yugoslavia became the third team to win the title, after beating the Soviets anew in the semifinals and Italy in the final. The United States regained the title in 1984, by beating Spain in the final, the Soviets won the gold medal for the second time in 1988, after beating the Americans for the second time in the semifinal, and the Yugoslavs in the gold medal game. In April 1989, through the leadership of Secretary General Borislav Stanković, FIBA approved the rule that allowed NBA players to compete in international tournaments, by this time, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia no longer existed, but their successor states continued to be among the leading forces. Two newly independent countries of the former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union, Croatia and Lithuania, won the silver, the United States repeated its victory in 1996 and 2000, but its performance was not as successful as in 1992. Since active NBA players have been allowed to compete in the Summer Olympics, Yugoslavia was the runner-up in Atlanta, and France in Sydney, with Lithuania winning bronze again on both occasions. The Americans regrouped in 2008, beating the current FIBA world champions, Spain, in a gold medal game. The Americans and the Spaniards met again in the 2012 gold medal game, with the Americans again winning, the first womens tournament was in 1976. The Soviet Union won against five other teams, in 1988, the tournament expanded into eight teams, with the Americans beating Yugoslavia in the gold medal game
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Soviet Union national basketball team
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The Soviet national basketball team was the basketball side that represented the Soviet Union in international competitions. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the countries all set up their own national teams. Based on the number of titles, the program of the former Soviet Union remains one of the most successful in the history of international basketball competitions. The Soviets first competed in the European championship at EuroBasket 1947, the Soviets outscored their opponents by an aggregate 126 points over their 6 wins, an average margin of victory of 21 points. After refusing to host EuroBasket 1949 as was FIBA Europes expectation of the Soviet Union and skipping the tournament entirely and they dominated the early portions of the tournament, outscoring opponents 312-117 in their four preliminary round wins. The three games of the round also posed little problem for the Soviet team, as the closest any opponent came was the Czechoslovak team losing by only 16. In the first game of the round, which was essentially a semifinal game, the Soviets defeated Bulgaria 72-54 to advance to the championship game. In that match, the Soviet team faced its first true close test in European play, a 44-44 tie was broken by Soviet Ilmar Kullam from the free throw line with 1 second left on the clock to give the Soviets a 45-44 win. Even that was called into question, however, as one of the referees initially signaled that Kullam had stepped on the throw line during the shot. After consultation with another referee, however, the throw was upheld. The Soviets maintained their domination at EuroBasket 1953, which hosted in Moscow. They had no trouble in a 3-0 preliminary round that included a 104-point slaughter of Denmark, through four preliminary round games and the first three final round games, the Soviets extended their winning streak to 31 games. With four games left in the round robin of EuroBasket 1955, the Soviets were facing the pesky Czechoslovakia team. Czechoslovakia, however, had already lost twice in the round, in a shocking result, the 81-74 final score did not favor the Soviet Union. The undefeatable titan had been beaten and they did so once more before the tournament was over, losing to Hungary in a game that essentially determined the gold medal despite being only the 6th of 7 matches each team played. The Soviets 5-2 record in the round matched that of Czechoslovakia, two years later, at EuroBasket 1957 in Sofia, the Soviets returned to form. They won their three preliminary games and then their seven final round games, including an exciting final match of the round robin against similarly undefeated hosts Bulgaria. The Soviets trailed 23-19 at halftime, but battled back to a 60-57 victory to take their 4th European championship, the EuroBasket 1957 followed seven consecutive EuroBasket Championships
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1988 Summer Olympics
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The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated from 17 September to 2 October 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia, in the Seoul Games,159 nations were represented by a total of 8,391 athletes,6,197 men and 2,194 women. 263 events were held and 27,221 volunteers helped to prepare the Olympics,11,331 media showed the Games all over the world. These were the last Olympic Games for two of the worlds dominating sport powers, the Soviet Union and East Germany, as both ceased to exist before the next Olympic Games. North Korea, still officially at war with South Korea, and its allies, Albania, Ethiopia, Cuba, Madagascar, Nicaragua boycotted the games because of the U. S. military support to the Contra rebels. However, the much larger boycotts seen in the previous three Summer Olympics were avoided, resulting in the largest ever number of participating nations during the Cold War era, before the opening of the games, thousands of homeless were captured by the police and sent to work camps. Several died under torture. ′ Seoul was chosen to host the Summer Games through a vote held on 30 September 1981, below was the vote count that occurred at the 84th IOC Session and 11th Olympic Congress in Baden-Baden, West Germany. After the Olympics were awarded, Seoul also received the opportunity to stage the 10th Asian Games in 1986, Soviet Vladimir Artemov won four gold medals in gymnastics. Daniela Silivaş of Romania won three and equalled compatriot Nadia Comănecis record of seven Perfect 10s in one Olympic Games, to these medals, she added a gold in the 4×100 relay and a silver in the 4×400. Just after the Games, she announced her retirement, Canadian Ben Johnson won the 100 m final with a new world record, but was disqualified after he tested positive for stanozolol. Johnson has since claimed that his positive test was the result of sabotage, the US finishes in fourth place after the completion of the optional rounds with a combined score of 390.575, three tenths of a point behind the German Democratic Republic. The USSR won their team gold medals in artistic gymnastics on both the mens and womens sides with scores of 593.350 and 395.475 respectively. The mens team was led by Vladimir Artemov, while Elena Shushunova lead the womens team, lawrence Lemieux, a Canadian sailor in the Finn class, was in second place and poised to win a silver medal when he abandoned the race to save an injured competitor. He arrived in 21st place, but was recognized by the IOC with the Pierre de Coubertin medal honoring his bravery and sacrifice. U. S. diver Greg Louganis won back-to-back titles on both diving events, but only hitting the springboard with his head in the 3 m event final. This became a minor controversy years later when Louganis revealed he knew he was HIV-positive at the time, since HIV cannot survive in open water, no other divers were ever in danger. Christa Luding-Rothenburger of East Germany became the first athlete to win Olympic medals at the Winter Olympics and she added a cycling silver to the speed skating gold she won earlier in the Winter Olympics of that year in Calgary. Swimmer Kristin Otto of East Germany won six gold medals, other multi-medalists in the pool were Matt Biondi and Janet Evans
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Lithuania men's national basketball team
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The Lithuania mens national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in FIBAs competitions of basketball. Despite Lithuanias small size, with a population of just almost 2.9 million, the Lithuanian team won the last EuroBasket tournaments prior to World War II, in 1937 and 1939. The 1939 team was led by Frank Lubin, who helped popularize basketball in the country and was called the Grandfather of Lithuanian Basketball, following the countrys annexation by the Soviet Union during the war, Lithuanian players frequently formed the core of the Soviet national team. After the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1990, the team was resurrected. The Lithuanian team won the FIBA EuroBasket for the time in 2003. On 13 December 1925 in Latvian capital Riga, Lithuanians played their first international game against their neighbors, given the Latvians had international knowledge provided by coaches of the American YMCA, they easily won 41–20. Later on, Latvians were crushing the future three-times European champions Lithuanians as well, another game the following year was won by the Latvians 47–12. During the period, basketball saw its Lithuanian popularity decrease and get overshadowed by football, the cold climate and lack of suitable indoor arena only allowed for basketball to be played during the summer period, and even then those who practiced preferred other sports. In 1935, Lithuania decided to promote a World Lithuanian Congress in temporary capital Kaunas, the following year, a delegation of Lithuanian American athletes from Chicago arrived in Kaunas as participants of World Lithuanian Congress. Two of the players, Juozas Joseph Zukas and Konstantinas Konnie Savickus, stayed to teach basketball secrets to Lithuanians, while Savickus had returned to America, another descendant of Lithuanians would arrive to aid the countrys basketball rise. Frank Lubin, who won a medal at the first basketball Olympic tournament at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, was invited to visit the Baltic nation by an Lithuanian official in attendance. Going by the Lithuanian name Pranas Lubinas, he spent five months there and served as the countrys first knowledgeable coach, Lubinas, along with Zukas, helped the Lithuanians beat the Latvians for the first time,35 to 27. The preparations for the EuroBasket 1937 started slowly, with players training only 4 hours a week, after a telegram was sent to the USA, two players arrived one month prior to the tournament, Pranas Talzūnas and Feliksas Kriaučiūnas, the latter of whom was designated as player-coach. The national team was being prepared not only technically, but also physically, the efforts were successful - the Lithuanians became the champions of Europe for the first time, defeating all their opponents and with Talzūnas being picked as the tournaments most valuable player. The crowd then rose to their feet and together sang the Lithuanian anthem, the team returned to a warm reception, with thousands gathering at a train station in a way Kriaučiūnas compared to like we, here in America, greet the president. Basketball regained its ground immediately, and had its popularity rise abruptly, especially among students, gymnasium teams from almost all counties competed in student games, teams were assembled in firms and basketball courts appeared all around the country. According to future player Stepas Butautas, In every yard hoops are being made from barrels, children, teenagers are throwing balls into them, others - even a sock crammed with clouts. Our Veršvai Primary School teacher K. Požemecka built two poles, made hoops from a willow and said, We will play basketball, future team coach Vladas Garastas added that as kids we started using a barrel to make a hoop
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1992 Summer Olympics
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The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event played in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain in 1992. The games were the first to be unaffected by boycotts since 1972, Barcelona is the second-largest city in Spain, and the birthplace of then-IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch. The city was also a host for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, on October 17,1986, Barcelona was selected to host the 1992 Summer Games over Amsterdam, Belgrade, Birmingham, Brisbane, and Paris, during the 91st IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland. Barcelona had previously bid for the 1936 Summer Olympics, but they ultimately lost to Berlin, at the Opening Ceremony Greek mezzo-soprano Agnes Baltsa sang Romiossini as the Olympic flag was paraded around the stadium. Alfredo Kraus later sang the Olympic Hymn in both Catalan and Spanish as the flag was hoisted, the Olympic flame cauldron was lit by a flaming arrow, shot by Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo. The arrow had been lit by the flame of the Olympic Torch, Rebollo overshot the cauldron as this was the original design of the lighting scheme. South Africa was allowed to compete in the Olympic Games for the first time since the 1960 Summer Olympics, after a long suspension for its apartheid policy. After a close race in the Womens 10,000 metres event, white South African runner Elana Meyer and black Ethiopian runner Derartu Tulu ran a victory lap together, hand-in-hand. Following its reunification in 1990, Germany sent a single, unified Olympic team for the first time since the 1964 Summer Olympics. As the Soviet Union had been dissolved in 1991, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sent their own teams for the first time since 1936, the other Soviet republics competed under the name Unified Team. These nations consisted of present-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the separation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia led to the Olympic debuts of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to United Nations sanctions, athletes from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were not allowed to participate with their own team, however, some individual athletes competed under the Olympic flag as Independent Olympic Participants. Fermín Cacho won the 1,500 metres in his home country, chinese diver Fu Mingxia, age 13, became the youngest Olympic gold medalist of all time. In mens artistic gymnastics, Vitaly Scherbo from Belarus, won six gold medals, Scherbo tied Eric Heidens record for individual gold medals at a single Olympics, winning five medals in an individual event. In womens artistic gymnastics, Tatiana Gutsu took gold in the All-Around competition edging the United States Shannon Miller, russian swimmers dominated the freestyle events, with Alexander Popov and Yevgeny Sadovyi each winning two events. Sadovyi also won in the relays, evelyn Ashford won her fourth Olympic gold medal in the 4×100-metre relay, making her one of only four female athletes to have achieved this in history. The young Krisztina Egerszegi of Hungary won three individual swimming gold medals, in womens 200 metre breaststroke, Kyoko Iwasaki of Japan won a gold medal at age of 14 years and six days, making her the youngest-ever gold medalist in swimming competitions at the Olympics. After demonstrated in six previous Summer Olympic Games, baseball became an Olympic sport
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1996 Summer Olympics
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A record 197 nations, all current IOC member nations, took part in the Games, comprising 10,318 athletes. The 1996 Summer Games were the first to be staged in a different year from the Winter Games, Atlanta became the fifth American city to host the Olympic Games and the third to hold a Summer Olympic Games. Atlanta was selected on September 18,1990, in Tokyo, Japan, over Athens, Belgrade, Manchester, Melbourne, and Toronto at the 96th IOC Session. Atlantas bid to host the Summer Games that began in 1987 was considered a long-shot and this would be Torontos fourth failed attempt since 1960. The Athens bid was based on the fact that 1996 marked 100 years since the first Summer Games in Greece in 1896, though Athens would eventually host the 2004 Summer Olympics. The Oxford Olympics Study 2016 estimates the outturn cost of the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics at USD4.1 billion in 2015-dollars and cost overrun at 151% in real terms. This includes sports-related costs only, that is, operational costs incurred by the committee for the purpose of staging the Games. The competition venues, the Olympic village, international broadcast center, and media and press center, which are required to host the Games. The cost and cost overrun for Atlanta 1996 compares with costs of USD4.6 billion, average cost for the Summer Games since 1960 is USD5.2 billion, average cost overrun is 176%. The 1996 Olympics was predicated on the model established by the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The cost to stage the Games was US$1.8 billion, to pay for the games, Atlanta relied on commercial sponsorship and ticket sales, resulting in a profit of $10 million. Events of the 1996 Games were held in a variety of areas, a number were held within the Olympic Ring, a 3 mi circle from the center of Atlanta. Others were held at Stone Mountain, about 20 miles outside of the city, to broaden ticket sales, other events, such as soccer, occurred in various cities in the Southeast. The opening ceremony featured Céline Dion singing The Power of the Dream, the mascot for the Olympiad was an abstract, animated character named Izzy. In contrast to the tradition of mascots of national or regional significance in the city hosting the Olympiad, Izzy was an amorphous. The 1996 Olympics were the first to have two separate opening ceremony events, Savannah, because of its geographical separation from Atlanta, had its own opening ceremonies on July 18,1996. The event featured Worldwide Connection, a composed by Savannah native Jeffrey Reed and a concert by Trisha Yearwood. Atlantas Olympic slogan Come Celebrate Our Dream was written by Jack Arogeti, the slogan was selected from more than 5,000 submitted by the public to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
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