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FIBA basketball, the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association consisting of 212 National federations of basketball across the world. FIBA, a non-profit organization, is the basketball authority recognized by the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.). FIBA basketball headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. FIBA controls international and Olympic basketball competitions. On June 18, 1932, FIBA was founded by Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland.

For more FIBA news, hit FIBA.com, the official website.

InsideHoops.com publishes key FIBA basketball news:

Basketball confirmed by IOC Session for 2012 Olympics

July 9, 2005: SINGAPORE (London Olympic Games) - Shortly after 11:00 am Singapore time, the 117th IOC Session voted to include basketball in the program of the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012.

The Session also decided that baseball and softball will remain on the list of Olympic sports but will not be included in the London 2012 Olympic Games program.

However, the two sports could be included in the 2016 Olympic Games. During the same session no new sports but at the 2012 Olympic Games in London the Olympic program will have 26 Olympic sports instead of 28.

Basketball was first included in 1936 at the Berlin Olympic Games. Women's basketball was only included in 1976 at the Montreal Olympic Games.

At the most recent Olympic Games in Athens, basketball was extremely successful. It was one of the most popular sports on television and with over 288,500 tickets sold basketball was one of the leading spectator attractions at the Athens Olympic Games.

FIBA is the third largest sport federation in terms of the number of affiliated members.

Patrick Baumann commented: "We are naturally very pleased with the confirmation for basketball made by the IOC Session. For FIBA, this proves that our sport is successful, however, with the exclusion of some sports it is essential that we do not "rest on our laurels".

"We cannot rely on past successes and the entire basketball family needs to strengthen its unity and continue to work incessantly to maintain and improve its status as an Olympic sport".

Asian Women fight for title

June 18, 2005: Asia Championship for Women) - The first day of the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women qualifiers took place on Sunday in China.

The town of Qinhunagdao, China is hosting the top teams in Asia who will compete for, not only the gold medal, but also for the 3 available spots to compete in the FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil 2006. The competition starts on June 19th to the 26th, 2005.

The teams competing:

LEVEL I: 1 China, 2 Korea, 3 Japan, 4 Chinese Taipei, 5 Thailand

LEVEL II:

Group A: 6 Malaysia, 7 Hong Kong, 8 Singapore, 9 SriLanka
Group B: 10 India, 11 Philippines, 12 Kazakhstan, 13 DPR Korea

FIBA Asia Secretary General, Dato' Yeoh Choo Hock stated: "The participating teams will pitch their elite players vying for a spot for the World Championship and Qinhuangdao City would be graced with the scenario of the top level stars of Asia displaying their skills."