Team USA's David Robinson proudly displays his gold medal during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Qualification is based on success in prior Olympic competitions and other basketball tournaments, such as the World Championship of Basketball. Each region of the world (Africa, Asia, Pan America, Europe and Oceania) is represented. Upon qualification, a draw is held to divide the 12 competing nations into two six-team 'pools.'

National teams compete against others within their pool with the top four teams in each pool qualifying for the medal round. Teams which continue to win compete for gold, silver and bronze medals.

The Atlanta Games were held in 1996, and the next Olympic competition is scheduled for Sydney, Australia at the 2000 Olympic Games, September 15 - October 1.

FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP of BASKETBALL
A major international tournament involving national teams from 16 countries throughout the world. The tournament is held every four years - in even-numbered years since 1950 (for Men) and 1953 (for Women). Like the Olympics, each region of the world (Africa, Asia, Pan America, Europe and Oceania) is represented. Both Men's and Women's World Championship is staged every four years at different sites.

In 1990, the tournaments grew from 12 to 16 teams. National teams compete in four four-team pools with top national teams advancing to medal round to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals while others compete for places nine-through-16.

The Men's World Championship was last held in 1998 in Athens and Pireaus, Greece with Yugoslavia taking home the gold medal. The Women's World Championship was last held in 1998 in Karlsruhe, Bremen and Berlin, Germany with the United States winning the gold medal.

The next World Championship of Basketball will be held in 2002, with the Men's competition taking place in Indianapolis, IN and the Women's competition taking place in the People's Republic of China.

McDONALD'S CHAMPIONSHIP
The McDonald's Championship was established in 1987 by the NBA and FIBA and has evolved into a global championship for the best club teams in the world. The tournament was an annual event from 1987 through 1991 when FIBA and the NBA decided to make it a biannual event to be held in odd-numbered years to complement the National Team competitions (Olympics and World Championship).

The tournament grew from three teams to a four-team format from 1988 through 1991. It increased to its current six-team format in 1993. Beginning with the 1995 McDonald's Championship, the NBA sends its reigning champion to the event to represent the league against the best club teams from professional leagues around the globe.

The most recent McDonald's Championship was held in October, 1997 at Bercy Arena in Paris, France. Championship teams from Argentina, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain competed along with the Chicago Bulls.

The next McDonald's Championship will be staged from October 1999, at the Fila Forum in Milan, Italy.