Serving a global basketball community of over a billion people, FIBA is the sport’s world governing body. A non-profit organization, our mission is to develop, grow and promote the dynamic and exciting sport of basketball by prioritizing excellence, inclusivity, innovation and sustainability.
Founded in 1932, FIBA is the only basketball authority recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). We support and empower 212 National Basketball Federations globally from our headquarters in Mies, Switzerland. We also have five Regional Offices worldwide.
Some of our activities include:
Organizing international competitions including the flagship FIBA Basketball World Cup, FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, the Olympic Basketball Tournaments and major FIBA 3x3 events.
Establish the Official Basketball Rules and regulations that govern relationships between different members of the global basketball community.
Establishing specifications for basketball equipment and facilities, focusing on innovation and sustainability.
Regulating international player transfers.
Maintaining ranking systems for national basketball teams based on results, to help determine seedings and invitations for future events.
Developing basketball globally by fostering youth and grassroots participation, by providing technical assistance including coaching and officiating clinics, as well as other educational programs.
Preserving and promoting basketball's values and cultural heritage. The FIBA Foundation was established in 2008 to build the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball. Since 2016, the Foundation has initiated countless 'Basketball For Good' projects, benefiting over 95,000 people annually in 158 countries.
OUR JOURNEY
Our founding members in 1932 were Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland. At the 1936 Olympics, the founder of basketball James Naismith (1861-1939) was named as FIBA Honorary President. We have organized the FIBA Basketball World Cup since 1950 and the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup since 1953 and these alternate with the Olympics. In 1989, FIBA opened the door to Olympic participation by professionals, including NBA players. The Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur became the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, with FIBA retained as its abbreviation. FIBA moved its global headquarters to Munich in 1956 and returned to Geneva in 2002. The FIBA House of Basketball was inaugurated on 18 June 2013. It marked an historic moment and a significant milestone for FIBA. The Patrick Baumann House of Basketball today includes the Naismith Arena, a dedicated 1,000 square metre exhibition and event space for the cultural heritage of basketball. It displays a collection of basketball items, books, and art. It is also home to the FIBA Hall of Fame.
FIBA 3x3, the world’s number one urban team sport made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, just over a decade after its first official event at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.