Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Event	Basketball
Games	2008 Summer Olympics
Caption	The Beijing National Indoor Stadium hosted the finals.
Dates	9–24 August 2008
Nations	12 (men), 12 (women)
Prev	Athens 2004
Next	London 2012

Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics was the seventeenth official appearance of the sport at the Olympic Games. The tournament was held from 9 to 24 August 2008, with all games played at two venues in Beijing, China. The United States reclaimed gold in the men's tournament, while the United States women's team continued its dominance with a fourth consecutive title.

Competition schedule

The preliminary round for both tournaments began on 9 August 2008, with the men's competition concluding with the gold medal game on 24 August. The women's final was held on 23 August. Games were scheduled across multiple sessions daily, with the knockout quarterfinals commencing on 19 August for women and 20 August for men. The schedule was designed to avoid conflicts with other major events at the 2008 Summer Olympics, such as track and field.

Venue

All basketball games were held in Beijing. The primary venue was the Beijing National Indoor Stadium, a state-of-the-art arena constructed for the Games, which hosted the medal rounds and finals. Preliminary round games were split between the Beijing National Indoor Stadium and the older Wukesong Indoor Stadium, located in the Wukesong Culture & Sports Center. Both venues were within the city's extensive Olympic cluster.

Qualification

Qualification for the 12-team men's and women's tournaments was determined through a combination of regional championships and a world qualifying tournament. The host nation China received automatic berths for both its men's and women's teams. For the men, champions from Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe earned direct qualification, along with the runner-up from the Americas and the top two finishers from the World Qualifying Tournament in Athens. The women's field was set via the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, continental championships, and a separate qualifying event.

Men's tournament

The men's tournament featured a formidable United States "Redeem Team," seeking to reclaim gold after a bronze medal at the Athens Games. Coached by Mike Krzyzewski, the squad included superstars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. They went undefeated through the tournament, defeating world champion Spain 118–107 in a thrilling final. Argentina, led by Manu Ginóbili, claimed the bronze medal, while Lithuania finished fourth. Notable performances also came from Yao Ming of China and Pau Gasol of Spain.

Women's tournament

The women's tournament was dominated by the United States, coached by Anne Donovan. The team, featuring Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird, won all eight of its games. They defeated Australia 92–65 in the gold medal match, with Lauren Jackson leading the Opals. Russia overcame China to secure the bronze medal. The tournament marked the final Olympic appearance for several legends of the women's game and showcased the growing international depth in competition.

Medal summary

The United States completed a gold medal sweep in basketball for the first time since the Sydney Games. Spain earned its first men's basketball medal since 1984, while Australia continued its consistent podium presence in women's basketball. Argentina added a bronze to its 2004 gold, and Russia returned to the women's medal stand after an absence.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;" |+ Medalists ! Event ! Gold ! Silver ! Bronze |- | Men | | | |- | Women | | | |}

Results

The final standings for the men's tournament placed the United States first, Spain second, and Argentina third, followed by Lithuania, Greece, Croatia, China, and Germany. In the women's tournament, the United States finished first, Australia second, and Russia third, with China, Spain, Belarus, Czech Republic, and Latvia rounding out the top eight. The competitions were noted for high television ratings globally and significant attendance in Beijing.

Category:Basketball at the Summer Olympics Category:Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:2008 Summer Olympics events