MIES (Switzerland) - The world looked greatly different in 1935, as did the basketball that was played, as well as the overall presentation of the EuroBasket event.
Basketball had still been in its infancy in war-town Europe with the sport only being officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1935. FIBA was founded in 1932 and took control of the sport in 1934. And basketball was due to debut at the Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
That led FIBA to create the EuroBasket competition to serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics, holding it in their backyard in Geneva at the Palais des Expositions from May 2-4 with 10 teams.
Facilities like the Arena Riga did not exist back then and the sun shone through the gym’s skylights, dazzling the players at times during the games. And the assembly of the floor’s wood panels also left some gaps, making it difficult to bounce the ball.
Players and teams also could not score at the same level as today’s game. Losing teams scored as few as 9 and 11 points over the course of the tournament, and Latvia ended up defeating Spain 24-18 in the Final.
Art
To help promote the event, FIBA reached out to graphic designer and poster artist Noël Fontanet, who created the iconic poster for the first EuroBasket.
The Geneva native Fontanet was responsible for nearly 30 years for the advertising workshop of the Société Générale d’Affichage (SGA). He used his direct, clear, dynamic and humorous style to create hundreds of posters, including for political parties, cigarettes, sporting competitions, restaurants and Geneva clothing shops.
Cinema
The feature film “Dream Team 1935” came out in 2012, depicting the improbable endeavors that the team went through to prepare and reach Geneva for the championship and then celebrate with the crown.
And Aigars Grauba’s production is part of FIBA’s Cultural Heritage exhibition on cinema and basketball displayed in the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball (Mies, Switzerland) till June 2026.
The film reflects on Latvia’s difficulties ahead of the championship, ranging from head coach Valdemars Baumanis’ forming a team, the eight-player squad eventually wearing home-made shorts and jerseys and an adventurous train journey to Geneva.
Once the Latvians arrived in Switzerland, the issues kept coming. The biggest of which was the entire team staying in a single hotel room. That is far cry from the luxuries and amenities of the EuroBasket 2025 players, who stay in the top hotels in single rooms,
Latvia and its people saw the championship as a real success and gave the country a boost in national pride, with it being celebrated in Latvia’s culture and arts as well.
Music
Oddly enough, the song "Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)" was featured in the film, though Louis Prima first released the iconic tune in 1936 - a year after the events in the movie.
Curiosities
The hosts Switzerland were reinforced by two American players and led by Jean Pare, who stood out for his long distance precision, shooting the ball from his chest.
Spain’s team featured four players who played in the Americas: Emilio and Pedro Alonso (Cuba), Rafael Rauno (Costa Rica), and Salvadorian “Small Devil”, Rafael Martín only 1.60 m (5’3’’) tall, who became a fan favorite, led Spain to the Final, and was named MVP.
Italy’s Livio Franceschini was the tournament’s top scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game. He poured in 32 against Bulgaria in a 42-23 win, more than the total points scored by the winning team in 11 of the event’s 17 games, including nearly all from the Quarter-Finals onward.
Latvia for their part dominated in their run to the Final, beating Hungary 46-12 and then easing past hosts Switzerland 28-19 in the Semi-Finals. Latvia opened the Final against Spain with the first nine points and ended up winning 24-18 to be crowned as the first European champions.
History
As previously mentioned, EuroBasket 1935 took place in a dark time in Europe and that hit both Finalists.
Spain crashed into a civil war in 1936 and Latvia began feeling the effects of the turmoil in earnest in 1939 and was later occupied by Nazi Germany in 1941.
In the end, four of eight players from Latvia’s title-winning team did not survive World War II. The architect of Latvia’s 1935 title lived long enough to see Latvia become a free country in 1990
The Latvian Basketball Association in May 2025 honored the anniversary of the Dream Team by unveiling a monument in honor of Coach Baumanis in Riga, from where his likeness will represent a team that remains an inspiration 90 years later.
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About the FIBA Foundation The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports, particularly basketball, in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
FIBA’s cultural heritage is the heart of the FIBA Foundation’s cultural and historical activities. It is one of the driving forces behind the promotion and dissemination of FIBA’s values.