BASKETBALL

Basketball is played by two five-player teams in games of 40 minutes (divided into four quarters of 10 minutes each). Each team has 24 seconds of ball possession to score. Since the game cannot end in a tie, teams may play as many five-minute overtime periods as necessary. If a player successfully shoots from outside of the three point line, the basket is worth three points, other wise it is worth two points. The three point line is 6.25 meters away from the basket. Free throws are worth one point. The tournament is played by 12 teams, which qualify during continental tournaments, except for the host country team and the World Champion team.