Original version

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Radio

World Service Radio

Sporting Witness

Podcasts

Factual: History

Sport

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Sporting Witness: The most controversial three seconds in basketball history

Magazines & Reviews

The Most Controversial Three Seconds in Basketball History

18/08/2022 GMT

The most controversial three seconds in basketball history

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, The most controversial three seconds in basketball history

The USSR faced the USA in the 1972 Olympic men's basketball final

The USSR faced the USA in the 1972 Olympic men's basketball final. The match had a bizarre ending. Ben Henderson spoke to Ivan Edeshko, who played a crucial role for the the USSR.

It's 50 years since the Soviet Union and the USA battled out the 1972 Olympic men's basketball final. It ended up being one of the most controversial matches in history. The Americans thought they were champions, but the Soviets won it at the death in very unusual circumstances. The USA team have never accepted their silver medals. Ben Henderson spoke to Ivan Edeshko, who made the game-winning ‘golden pass’ for the USSR.
(Photo from Bettmann via Getty Images: USSR players celebrate beating the USA in the 1972 Olympic men's basketball final)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Sporting Witness

The most controversial three seconds in basketball history

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service

About BBC World Service