If prizes were given for developing basketball then Mexico would almost certainly get the gold medal.

Nearly two thousand years after 'pok-tapok' was played, a large race of Mexicans called the Aztecs were having similar fun with rubber balls.

During the sixteenth century they were often busy exhausting themselves with a number of wars with European armies.

They also spent their energies on playing a game called 'ollamalitzli'.

It was sometimes played on horseback, with two teams battling to get a solid rubber ball through a fixed stone ring.

Bad losers

Scores were few and far between but when they did it was worth the wait.

Today's players who score victorious last-minute baskets are greeted with wild celebrations and win bonuses.

Back then it was a little different.

The player who scored the winning goal was allowed to keep the clothes of all the spectators.

This doesn't sound much of an incentive but it was far better than defeat.

The losing team's captain usually had his head chopped off.