On any given day, all around the world, people are playing basketball. Today, basketball rates as one of the all-time most popular sports worldwide. Basketball is a game in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by throwing a ball through a hoop (the basket) under organized rules.
Passing the ball through the basket from above scores points; the team with more points at the end of the game wins.
 Basketball tournaments are played out between players of all age groups from little five and six year olds to adults of all ages and levels. Basketball continues to grow in popularity, because it is a relatively cheap game to get into, can be played indoors and outdoors, in summer and winter, by girls or boys, men and women, anywhere in the world. Today, there are up to 300 million people playing basketball all around the entire globe. From American College basketball to professional league, basketball first evolved into an international sport in 1932 and became an Olympic sport in 1936. Since then, its popularity worldwide has grown exponentially.
Variations of basketball are activities based on the game of basketball, using common basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations are only superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball influences. Other variations include children`s games, contests or activities meant to help players reinforce skills. Most of the variations are played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. Outdoor basketball courts are commonly referred to as "blacktop", a reference to the asphalt surface used on many outdoor recreation grounds.
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