Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics Basketball contests at the 2008 Summer Olympics were held from August 9, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China. The United States claimed the gold medals in both the Men's and Women's competitions. Basketball players that carried their flags at the opening ceremony were Yao Ming (for the People's Republic of China), Šarūnas Jasikevičius (for Lithuania), Dirk Nowitzki (for Germany), Andrei Kirilenko (for the Russian Federation), and Manu Ginóbili (for Argentina). Two sets of medals were awarded in the following events: An NOC may enter
Argentina at the Olympics created and recognized in 1923. The country had successful performances during the period 1924-1952, claiming at least one gold medal in every edition. Starting with the 1956 Summer Olympics, Argentina suffered a gradual overall decline, a situation that reached its most critical point in the 1976 and 1984 Summer Olympics. In those Games, Argentina did not win any medals. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the country claimed gold medals for the first time after 52 years. Argentine athletes have won a total of 74 medals at the Summer Olympic Games. 24 of these medals have come in boxing,