YEAR IN REVIEW 1997: SPORTS-AND-GAMES: BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL: International. The Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., was the major event of 1996 in international basketball. The U.S. team was the overwhelming favourite to win the gold medal in men's competition and fulfilled expectations by defeating Yugoslavia 95-69 in the final. Lithuania finished third. In the women's tournament the United States completed a host-country sweep by defeating Brazil 111-87 in the final. Australia was third. In Europe a major concern was the effect of the Bosman ruling on the sport. In 1995 soccer player Jean-Marc Bosman had taken his contractual dispute to the European courts, and his success there led to basketball's playing boundaries' being thrown wide open. Players at the end of their contracts could now move freely throughout the European Union member countries and would no longer be considered "foreign" players. The Fdration Internationale de Basketball, the world governing body for basketball, during the year launched a new competition for the top clubs in Europe to replace the European championship. The EuroLeague began for men on September 18 and for women on October 2. The guaranteed number of games and television and marketing contracts were designed to provide a guaranteed income for the clubs, which was crucial to their future. In Africa the 18th championship for men was won by Angola, which defeated Senegal 68-55 in the final. The European champions at Junior (under 18) level were Croatia in men's competition and Russia in the women's tournament. Runners-up were France and Slovakia, respectively. The major club competition during the 1995-96 European season, the European Championship for Men's Clubs, was won by Panathinaikos (Greece), which defeated Barcelona (Spain) 67-66 in Paris. In other European competitions Taugres (Spain) took the European Cup by beating PAOK Salonika (Greece); Efes Pilsen Istanbul (Turkey) defeated Stefanel Milan of Italy to win the European Korac Cup; BTU Wuppertal (Germany) gained the women's European Champions Cup with a victory over defending champions SFT Como (Italy); and the Ronchetti Cup stayed in France as Tarbes defeated S.C. Alcamo (Italy). In South America the Basketball Club League for Men was won by Olimp Venado Tuerto of Argentina. Leites Nestle of Brazil won the 11th South American Championship for Women's Champion Clubs. (MARK HANNEN)