Olympic Games: Berlin 1936

BERLIN (Olympics) - There were no leather high-tops or slam dunks back in 1936, when the first Olympic basketball tournament was staged in Berlin, Germany.

There was no hardwood, either.

Countries from all over the world descended on Berlin to play the most important sporting event of their lives outdoors and on clay.

It wasn’t the sort of glitzy arena spectators will find on the north side of the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, when the Summer Games are held this summer.

Glamour or no glamour, basketball had its Olympic baptism at the Berlin Games.

It was 45 years after the sport was invented by Dr James Naismith and just four years after the birth of FIBA, which celebrates its 80th birthday on Monday.

The game 76 years ago is unrecognizable from the one that is played today.

There was no shot clock.

The speed of the game now is blinding compared to 1936, and there is a lot more scoring, too.

The most points poured in by any team in Berlin were the 58 by Italy in their 42-point beat-down of Germany in the Second Round.

The United States almost equaled that in their 56-23 drubbing of the Philippines in the Quarter-Finals.

Those two scores were points explosions compared to the many of the games that were played.

At the first Olympic Basketball Tournament, there were 23 teams – almost double the 12 of today.

Estonia, France, Chile, Turkey, Switzerland, the United States, Spain, Italy, Poland, Peru, Egypt, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Uruguay, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Japan, China, the Philippines and hosts Germany all had places in the tournament field.

Politics and war disrupted the 1936 event, though.

While the start of World War II would not come until three years later, Spain's Civil War had only recently begun and that prevented their team from making it to Germany.

Both Spain and Hungary, in fact, didn’t play.

The United States were awarded a 2-0 win over the Spaniards and Czechoslovakia were given a 2-0 victory over Hungary.

Once the tournament got to the medal round, any hopes of an explosive gold-medal showdown between the United States and Canada were dashed by Mother Nature.

The title clash was played after a day of rain, and there was also a downpour during the Final itself.

Not surprisingly, the United States only beat Canada, 19-8. A total of eight points was scored in the second half because of the rain.

Joe Fortenberry had eight points to lead the United States to gold.

With Mexico overcoming Poland 26-12 to capture bronze, teams from the Americas claimed all the medals and it’s the only time that has ever happened.

FIBA