International Basketball Federation

The International Basketball Federation (French: Fédération Internationale de Basketball), more commonly known by the French acronym FIBA (pronounced [fee-buh]), is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball. Originally known as the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (hence FIBA), in 1989 it dropped the Amateur from its official name but retained the initialism, because of the first two letters of the word basketball.

The FIBA defines the international rules of basketball, specifies the equipment and facilities required, regulates the transfer of athletes across countries, and controls the appointment of international referees. 213 national federations are now members, organized since 1989 into five zones or "commissions": Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

FIBA is a world basketball tournament for men's national teams held quadrennially by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

A parallel event for women's teams, the FIBA World Championship for Women, is also held quadrennially, in the same year as the men's event but in a different country.

The champion team wins the Naismith Trophy, which was first awarded in the 1967 tournament.

The tournament structure is similar but not identical to that of the FIFA World Cup; both of these international competitions have been played in the same year since 1970.

History

The association was founded in Geneva in 1932, two years after the sport was officially recognized by the IOC. Its original name was Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur. Eight nations were founding members: Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, and Switzerland. During the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, the Federation named James Naismith (1861-1939), the founder of basketball, as its Honorary President.

FIBA has organized a World Championship for men since 1950 and a World Championship for Women since 1953. Both events are now held every four years, alternating with the Olympics.

In 1989, FIBA opened the door to Olympic participation by professionals such as players from the NBA in the United States. At this point, the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur became the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, but retained FIBA as an abbreviation.

The Federation headquarters moved to Munich in 1956, then returned to Geneva in 2002. Patrick Baumann is the Secretary General of FIBA.

In 1991 it founded FIBA Hall of Fame, the first induction ceremony was held on September 12, 2007 during EuroBasket 2007.

Presidents Vicepresidents

1932-48: Leon Bouffard / 1932-39: James A. Naismith
1948-60: Willard Greim
1960-68: Antonio dos Reis Carneiro
1968-76: Abdel Moneim Wahby
1976-84: Gonzalo Puyat II
1984-90: Robert Busnel
1990-98: George E. Killian
1998-2006: Abdoulaye Seye Moreau
2006-present: Bob Elphinston

Secretaries General

1932-76: R. William Jones
1976-95: Bora Stanković
1995-present: Patrick Baumann

New Tournament

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced that the first edition of the 12-team FIBA U17 World Championship for Men and Women that will be played in July 2010.

Tournaments

Current champions:

National teams

Tournament	Men's	Women's	U-19 Men's	U-19 Women's	U-17 Men's	U-17 Women's
World Championship
Olympics			N/A
FIBA Diamond Ball			N/A
Commission	Men's	Women's	U-18 Men's	U-18 Women's	U-16 Men's	U-16 Women's
FIBA Africa
FIBA Americas
FIBA Asia
FIBA Europe
FIBA Oceania

Commission	U-20 Men's	U-20 Women's
FIBA Europe

FIBA no longer holds Under-21 World Championships and Under-20 Zone Championships, except in Europe.

Clubs

FIBA tournament	Men's	Women's
World Club Championship	Upcoming
Americas League	Peñarol Mar del Plata	N/A
Asia Champions Cup	Saba Battery	N/A
Africa Cup of Clubs	Primeiro de Agosto	N/A
EuroChallenge/EuroLeague Women	Barons LMT	Spartak Moscow Region
Tournament	Men's	Women's
NBA	Boston Celtics	Phoenix Mercury
Euroleague	CSKA Moscow	N/A
ULEB EuroCup	DKV Joventut	N/A
Liga Sudamericana	Regatas	N/A
NBL	Melbourne Tigers	Adelaide Lightning

Note: The following competitions are not under the direct control of a FIBA continental confederation:

NBA and WNBA: Both leagues are run by the NBA, which is a separate organization which uses a slightly different rule set than FIBA's. The NBA has 29 teams in the USA plus one in Canada, while the WNBA has 14 teams in the USA only.
The men's Euroleague is totally controlled by ULEB, a consortium of European domestic and transnational leagues. The ULEB Eurocup, known as the ULEB Cup until the 2008-09 season, is jointly run by ULEB and FIBA Europe, but only the two preliminary rounds of that competition are run by FIBA Europe. Both competitions, however, use FIBA's rule set. (EuroLeague Women, despite the similar name to the men's Euroleague, is run by FIBA Europe.)
The NBL and WNBL are separate organizations based in Australia. Both leagues, which use FIBA rules, have teams throughout Australia plus one in New Zealand.

Current & Upcoming Tournaments

Tournament	Date	Teams
U18 European Championship Men 2008 Division A	July 25 - August 3	16
U18 European Championship Men 2008 - Division B	July 25 - August 3	20
U20 European Championship Men 2008 Division A	August 1 - 10	16
U20 European Championship Men 2008 Division B	August 1 - 10	19
U16 European Championship Women 2008 Division A	August 8 - 17	16
U16 European Championship Women 2008 Division B	August 8 - 17	18
U16 European Championship Men 2008 Division A	August 15 - 24	16
U16 European Championship Men 2008 Division B	August 15 - 24	23