Andrew Pace
Lebanon has participated in the Summer Olympics multiple times, but the country has never qualified for the Olympics in basketball. Lebanon's men's basketball team, known as 'Cedrus Libani' or 'The Cedars' by fans, is one of the Middle East's top national teams. Lebanon has competed in the FIBA Basketball World Cup four times and has finished as runners-up at the FIBA Asia Cup four times. They will compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain, in 2024, which will be only their second appearance at the tournament. Lebanon has participated in most Winter Olympic Games since 1948, missing only the 1994 and 1998 Winter Games. Lebanese athletes have won four medals in the Olympics, three in Greco-Roman wrestling and one in weightlifting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times Lebanon has qualified for the Olympics in basketball | 0 |
| Number of times Lebanon has participated in the FIBA Basketball World Cup | 4 |
| Number of times Lebanon has participated in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament | 2 |
| Number of times Lebanon has finished as runners-up in the FIBA Asia Cup | 4 |
| Number of times Lebanon has participated in the Olympic Games | 19 |
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What You'll Learn
Lebanon has never qualified for the Olympics in basketball
Lebanon has a rich history of basketball, with the sport being introduced to the country in the mid-1920s at the American University of Beirut. The official organization of basketball in Lebanon, the Lebanese Basketball Federation, was established in 1949. The men's national basketball team, known as 'Cedrus Libani' (The Cedars) by their fans, is one of the top national teams in the Middle East. They have achieved notable results, including finishing as runners-up in the FIBA Asia Cup on four occasions: 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2022.
Despite their success in the region, Lebanon has never qualified for the Olympic Games in basketball. They came close in 2007, when a second-place finish at the FIBA Asia Championship would have qualified them for the 2008 Summer Olympics. However, they lost to Iran in the final, and subsequently failed to qualify through the separate qualifying tournament. Lebanon has participated in four FIBA Basketball World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2023) but has yet to translate this success into Olympic qualification.
Lebanon's absence from the Olympic basketball stage is not due to a lack of talent. The team has produced talented players like Wael Arakji, a star guard and the team's go-to guy, who can score and set up his teammates. Other notable players include shooters Sergio El Darwich and Karim Zeinoun, and power forwards Hayk Gyokchyan and Ali Haidar. Lebanon has also faced challenges, such as an indefinite suspension by FIBA in 2013 due to internal conflicts within the Lebanese Basketball Federation, which barred them from international competitions for a period.
Lebanon continues to strive for their Olympic debut in basketball. They will compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 in Valencia, Spain, their second appearance in these tournaments after 2008. While they have yet to qualify, Lebanon remains hungry for their first-ever Olympics ticket, and their recent performances suggest they are on the right track.
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Lebanon's 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament hopes
Lebanon has participated in four FIBA Basketball World Cups but has never qualified for the Olympics. The Asian side's only Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) appearance was in Athens in 2008, where they lost both their games. However, Lebanon qualified for the 2024 OQTs in Valencia, Spain, as one of the 16 best teams that did not directly advance to the Summer Olympics or become the highest-ranked team from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.
Lebanon's performance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, where they finished 23rd, gave them some much-needed confidence. They started with losses to Latvia and Canada but put up a fight against France, losing narrowly 85-79. They then beat Côte d'Ivoire 94-84 and finished with an 81-73 victory over Iran.
Lebanon's point guard, Wael Arakji, is their go-to guy, with Karim Zeinoun and Sergio El Darwich also key shooters. The team will be hoping that 21-year-old star small forward Yousef Khayat, who is playing college basketball in the USA, will join the team for the OQTs.
Lebanon has been placed in Group A of the OQT Spain, alongside hosts Spain and Angola. The top two finishers in each group will progress to the Semi-Finals, where Lebanon could face the Bahamas, Finland, or Poland. The two Semi-Finals winners will then compete for a ticket to the 2024 Olympics.
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Lebanon's basketball history and achievements
Lebanon has a rich history in basketball, with the sport first introduced to the country in the mid-1920s at the American University of Beirut. The Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB) was established in 1949, and the men's national basketball team has represented Lebanon in the sport since 1947. The team is part of the FIBA Asia zone and has achieved notable successes over the years.
The Lebanese men's basketball team is known as 'Cedrus Libani' or 'The Cedars' by its fans and is considered one of the top national teams in the Middle East. They have consistently proven their prowess in the FIBA Asia Cup, finishing as runners-up on four occasions: in 2001, 2005, 2007, and most recently in 2022. This impressive record showcases their dominance in the region.
The Cedars have also made appearances in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, participating in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2023. In the 2023 World Cup, Lebanon finished in 23rd place, securing wins against Ivory Coast and Iran in the classification round. This performance granted them entry into the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, where they will be hungry for their first Olympic appearance.
Lebanon's basketball achievements extend beyond the national team. The women's national team has also made its mark, notably reaching second place in the Arab Championship in 2000 and winning the Jordan tournament in 2003. The Lebanese Junior National Team added to these achievements by qualifying for the U19 Men's World Championship in 2007 for the first time.
Individual Lebanese basketball players have also left their mark on the sport. Fadi El Khatib, nicknamed "the Lebanese Tiger," dominated the Lebanese League, winning 11 championships and eight Lebanese Cups during his 23-year career. He represented the national team in three FIBA Asia Cups, claiming three silver medals, and appeared in the FIBA Asia Cup All-Star team twice. Wael Arakji, Lebanon's star point guard, has also made waves, earning the tournament MVP title and a spot on the All-Star Five at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.
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Star players Wael Arakji and Yousef Khayat
Lebanon has never qualified for the Olympics, but they are set to compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain, in 2024. Star players Wael Arakji and Yousef Khayat will be key to their hopes of reaching their first-ever Olympic Games.
Wael Arakji is a Lebanese basketball player born on 4 September 1994 in Tripoli, Lebanon. He is a 6'4" guard who most recently played for Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut in the Lebanese LBL. Arakji is a talented player who can score and set up his teammates. He played for the Lebanese National Team between 2015 and 2025 and has also played for clubs in China, Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the USA. Arakji has had a successful career, winning the Qatari Basketball League with Al-Shamal and the Championnat National A with US Monastir, and reaching the final of the Basketball Africa League. He was named to the 2021 All-BAL First Team and helped Lebanon win the 2022 Arab Basketball Championship, where he was named MVP of the tournament.
Yousef Khayat is a 21-year-old small forward who plays college basketball in the USA for the Bowling Green Falcons. He is a talented young player who has represented Lebanon in the FIBA Asia Cup. Khayat's participation in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament would be a major boost for Lebanon's chances of reaching the Olympics.
Arakji and Khayat will be crucial to Lebanon's hopes of qualifying for their first-ever Olympic Games. With their talent and experience, they will lead a team that has shown improvement in recent tournaments, finishing the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with wins over Côte d'Ivoire and Iran. Lebanon will face a tough challenge in the qualifying tournament, but with their star players leading the way, they have a chance to make history.
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Lebanon's participation in other Olympic events
Lebanon has yet to qualify for the Olympics in basketball. However, the country has participated in various Olympic events and has a history of participation in the Olympic Games.
Lebanon first participated in the Olympic Games in 1948, and has since competed in most Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Notably, Lebanon boycotted the 1956 Games, protesting British and French involvement in the Suez Crisis. In terms of medals, Lebanese athletes have won four medals in total, with three in Greco-Roman wrestling and one in weightlifting.
Lebanon has participated in several other Olympic events, including the Youth Olympic Games in 2010, which was the first of its kind, held in Singapore. Lebanon has also sent delegations to multiple Winter Olympic Games, missing only the 1994 and 1998 Winter Games.
The country has also competed in the FIBA Basketball World Cup multiple times, finishing 23rd in 2023, and qualifying for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2024. Lebanon's basketball team has yet to qualify for the Olympics, but they are hopeful for a debut in Paris.
Lebanon's Olympic journey began in 1936 when they sent officials to the Summer Olympics in Berlin, and they have since established a consistent presence in the Olympic arena, striving for success in various sports disciplines.
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Frequently asked questions
Lebanon has never qualified for the Olympics in basketball. They have, however, participated in four FIBA Basketball World Cups and several other international basketball tournaments.
Lebanon has participated in most Summer Olympic Games since 1948, missing only one in 1956 when they boycotted the Games in protest of the British and French involvement in the Suez Crisis. They have also participated in most Winter Olympic Games since 1948, missing only the 1994 and 1998 Winter Games. Lebanese athletes have won four medals in the Olympics: three in Greco-Roman wrestling and one in weightlifting.
Yes, Lebanon participated in the first Youth Olympic Games in 2010 in Singapore.
