The birth date of basketball is usually identified as 21 December 1891, with the first game taking place in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Through the years, interest in the sport has appeared in practically every country in the world and participation spread internationally. The sport of basketball was first included in the Olympic Games as a full medal sport for men in 1936 and for women in 1976. Certainly one of the most popular sports internationally, basketball presently attracts great attention from fans and media around the world. The admission of professional basketball players to Olympic competition in 1992 has further enhanced the popularity of the sport and the quality of play internationally.
