From this edition, in which the USA was champion,
Yugoslavia twice, and Spain in the last edition in
Japan, have joined this elite club of the best
basketball teams in the history of the World
Championships.
Turkey is waiting for the best teams. Spain is
defending the title with the 2014 World
Championship on the horizon. The USA, who want to
return to the top spot on the podium, will bring their
top NBA stars. Argentina, Brazil, the American
champions, China… all great teams with great
players. The best basketball in the world.
THE MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
TROPHY
THE NAISMITH CUP
Buenos Aires in 1950 was the venue of the first
men's World Championship.
However, we had to wait until the 1967 edition in
Montevideo to see the inauguration of a trophy that,
with a few retouches, has been received by the best
teams in the planet ever since.
We are talking about the James Naismith trophy.
Renato William Jones, FIBA secretary general from its
foundation in 1932 until 1976 was the inspiration
behind its design.
During a trip down the Nile Dr. Jones was impressed
by the Temple of Karnak, and especially by one of its
majestic columns with a capital in the form of a lotus
flower.
On each side of the base, sculpted in pink marble, is
the name of the inventor of basketball in Latin, Arab
and Chinese script as well as Egyptian hieroglyphics.
The 9 kilogramme trophy is made of top quality silver
with 14 carat gold plating inside. The cup, which
measures 47 centimetres in height and 20 in width,
has a circumference of 21 centimetres at the top.
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FUNDACIÓN PEDRO FERRÁNDIZ