Sport
In what year did Venezuela play host to the Basketball World Olympic Qualifying Tournament?
Venezuela
Baseball is Venezuela's most popular sport, with the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League existing since 1945. Besides baseball, Venezuela's most popular sports are basketball and football. Venezuela hosted the 2012 Basketball World Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the 2013 FIBA Basketball Americas Championship, which took place in Poliedro de Caracas. Football, spearheaded by the Venezuela national football team is gaining popularity as well. Venezuela will hold the Copa América every 40 years, according to the Conmebol rotation policy. (2007, 2047, 2087, 2127, 2167, 2207, 2247, 2287...)Venezuela is also home to Formula 1 driver, Pastor Maldonado. At the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, he claimed his first pole and victory and became the first and only Venezuelan to have done so in the entire Formula 1 history. Maldonado has increased the reception of Formula 1 fans in Venezuela and is now inspiring thousands of young Venezuelan children to aim for Formula 1. In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Venezuelan Rubén Limardo won gold in fencing.