HistoryData
general1959

EuroBasket 1959 — basketball competition

January 1, 1959

The Soviet Union won their fifth EuroBasket title at the 1959 tournament, hosted by Turkey with seventeen competing nations.

Quick Facts

Year
1959
Category
general

Key Facts

Edition
11th FIBA EuroBasket
Host country
Turkey
Venue
Mithat Paşa Stadium, Istanbul
Competing nations
17
Tournament dates
21 May – 31 May 1959
Soviet Union EuroBasket titles
5

By the Numbers

11
Edition
17
Competing nations
21
Tournament dates
5
Soviet Union EuroBasket titles

Location

Map of Istanbul, TurkeyMap of Istanbul, TurkeyIstanbul, Turkey

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

FIBA Europe organized its eleventh continental basketball championship, awarding hosting rights to Turkey. Seventeen national federations affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition, reflecting the growing participation in European basketball during the late 1950s.

Event

The tournament was held at Mithat Paşa Stadium in Istanbul from 21 to 31 May 1959. Seventeen teams competed across the championship, which concluded with the Soviet Union defeating Czechoslovakia in the final, while France secured the bronze medal.

Consequence

The Soviet Union claimed their fifth EuroBasket title, cementing their dominance in European basketball. Czechoslovakia finished as runners-up and France took bronze, reinforcing the competitive hierarchy among European basketball nations during the Cold War era.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 195919591956195719581960196119621959 Cannes Film Festival — film festival edition1959 FIBA World Championship — 1959 edition of the FIBA World Championship1959 Mediterranean Games — 3rd edition of the Mediterranean Games1959–60 European Cup — 5th season of the UEFA club football tournament1959 African Cup of Nations — football tournament1959 Formula One season — sports seasonCuban Revolution — revolution in Cuba culminating in 19591959 South American Championship — football tournament in Ecuador december 1959eurobasket-1959-basketball-competition-1959