The world will turn its eyes to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21, 2016 as they host the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. More than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries – including Kosovo and South Sudan for the first time – are expected to compete for 306 sets of medals in 28 sports.
Basketball at the Summer Olympics has been a sport consistently for men since it was introduced at the 1936 Games in Berlin and for women since its first appearance in Montreal in 1976. The U.S. has been by far the most successful nation winning 14 out of 17 men’s tournaments and 7 of 9 women’s tournaments. Canada has only won one medal – a silver in Berlin – and while the women have qualified for Rio the men have not qualified to date.