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Overseeing historical insights, Sport Singapore documents early colonial and community club contributions to sports, fostering national heritage and promoting inclusive sporting participation.
Last updated 7 April 2025
The history of sports in Singapore began in the 19th Century, when the Colonials turned to sports as a way to pass time as they waited for news from back home in the United Kingdom.
This led to the development of private sports and recreation clubs such as the Cricket Club, Singapore Recreation Club, Singapore Swimming Club, Hollandse Club and others.
Then came the influx of immigrants from China, India and other parts of the world. It wasn’t long before other communal clubs such as the Chinese Swimming Club, Indian Association, Malay Football Club and others were formed to serve their own communities.
All of the various clubs played a major role in promoting sports in Singapore in the early days.
SPORTS IN COLONIAL TIMES
Sports in Singapore can be traced back to the 19th Century, during the colonial period when the Colonials turned to sport to make bearable the long wait for news from the United Kingdom.
SPORTS IN INDEPENDENT SINGAPORE
When Singapore attained independence in 1965, the Government called on the nation to build a rugged and robust society through sports participation.
SPORTING EVENTS
Some of the major sports events organized by the Government to promote a sporting culture and to “build a rugged society” in those early independence years are featured in this segment.
SPORTS CLUB
Development of sports in the early days was due in no small measure to the ethnic clubs -- Swiss Club, Chinese Swimming Club, Singapore Recreation Club , British Club, Malay Football Club, Indian Association, Ceylon Sports Club, Hollandse Club and the Singapore Swimming Club, among others.