EuroBasket 1935 was the inaugural FIBA European basketball championship, held as a test event ahead of basketball's Olympic debut at the 1936 Berlin Games.
Key Facts
- Edition
- First FIBA European Championship
- Host city
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Date held
- May 1935
- Participating nations
- 10 teams
- Tournament winner
- Latvia
- Related film
- Dream Team 1935 (2012, Latvia)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
FIBA sought to establish a European regional basketball competition and to serve as a preparatory test event ahead of basketball's first appearance at the Olympic Games, scheduled for Berlin in 1936. This motivated the federation to organize a continental championship bringing together affiliated national teams.
Ten FIBA-affiliated national teams gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, in May 1935 for the first FIBA European Championship. The tournament, later known as EuroBasket 1935, was contested among European nations competing for the inaugural continental title, which was ultimately claimed by Latvia.
Latvia's victory became a celebrated moment in Baltic sporting history, inspiring the 2012 Latvian film Dream Team 1935. The event also fulfilled its role as a proving ground for international basketball organization, helping lay the groundwork for the sport's successful introduction at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.