BASKETBALL

Basketball is the most popular North American invented sport played around the world today. In December 1891 Canadian Dr. James Naismith invented the sport as a recreation suitable for indoor winter play in Springfield Massachusetts. The sport spread rapidly through continental North America played by both men and women. U.S. Servicemen during World War II (1939-1945) popularized the sport in many other countries. The sport debuted at the 1904 Saint Louis Olympic games but not as an official sport. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) was formed in 1932 and the International Olympic Committee recognized basketball as one of the world’s major sports. The 1936 Berlin Olympic Games was basketball’s first official Olympic games in the men’s division and the 1974 Montreal Olympic Games for the women’s division. Basketball in Trinidad and Tobago is play at the grassroots, high school and club level. The National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago is the governing body for basketball in Trinidad and Tobago.