Olympic basketball matches are played on a court 12m long and 15m wide. The object of the game is to dribble the ball down court and shoot it into a netted basket 2.9m above the ground. The open ring or hoop into which the ball is shot is 45cm in diameter. A successful shot is worth 2 points. Extending in an arc 6.25m from the basket is the 3-point line. Any successful shot launched from beyond that line is worth 3points. Free throws awarded as a result of fouls, are taken from behind a line 5.8m from the end line. A successful free throw is worth one point.

Each team consists of 5 players. Substitutions may be made at any break in the play of the game. Substituted players may return at any time.

Olympic basketball matches are made up of 20minute halves. If the score is tied at the end on 40minutes of play, a 5minute overtime period I played. Further overtime periods are added until the tie is broken. Tie games are not tolerated in basketball.

According to Olympic rules, the offensive team must take a shot within 30 seconds of gaining possession of the ball.

Personal fouls involve bodily contact with an opposing player. Common fouls include blocking the progress of an opponent, charging into an opponent, holding, pushing, and hand checking. If a foul is committed on a player who is not in the act of shooting, the game resumes with a throw in from out of bounds. If the foul is committed on a player who is in the act of shooting is awarded one free throw. If the shot is unsuccessful, the shooter is awarded two free throws. If the shot was from beyond the 3-point line and was unsuccessful the shooter is awarded three free throws. If a foul is committed by a player whose team is in possession of the ball, the opposing team is given possession of the ball with a throw in from out of bounds. A technical foul is assessed when a player or coach acts in a violent or disrespectful manner. The opposing team is awarded two free throws and possession of the ball.

A player who commits five fouls must leave the game and may not return. Each team is allowed seven fouls per half. Each team foul after the 7^th one is penalised by the awarding of two free throws to the opposing team even if the foul was not committed during the act of shooting.

One rule that newcomers to basketball find confusing id the 3 second restriction. The restricted area at each end of the court begins at the end line, extending 3m to each side of the basket and extends to the free throw line. A player whose team has possession of the ball may not spend more than 3seconds in the opposing team's restricted area. A violation of this rule is penalised by loss of possession o the ball.

In Olympic basketball each team is allowed only two timeouts per half; balls bouncing on the rim after a shot may be touched; only a team's coach may call time out.

The 1 teams in an Olympic tournament play in two round-robin pools. The top 4 teams from each pool advance to direct elimination quarter finals, semifinals and finals.

Basketball was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1936. It will be taking place at The Dome and the Sydney SuperDome, which are both located in Sydney Olympic Park.

Basketball:Top 5 Countries

	Male			Female
Country	G	S	B	G	S	B	Total
United States	10	1	1	2	1	1	16
Soviet Union	2	4	3	3	-	1	13
Yugoslavia	1	3	1	-	1	1	7
Brazil	-	-	3	-	-	-	3
Bulgaria	-	-	-	-	1	1	2