Although Singapore does not have a de jure national sport, football is arguably the most popular spectator sport in Singapore. Singapore has its own professional football league, known as the Singapore Premier League (formerly known as S. League). Launched in 1996, it consists of nine teams competing against one another, with one based in Brunei, as of 2023[update]. Since 2019, all eight teams in Singapore shared their home stadiums with one other team, which are mostly located in heartland towns. In 1998, 2004, 2007 and 2012, the Singapore national football team were champions in the AFF Championship, the premier football competition in Southeast Asia.
Singapore athletes have performed well in both regional and international competitions, mainly in swimming, badminton, table tennis, bowling, sailing, water polo, sepak takraw, and silat. To date, Singapore has won a total of one gold, two silver and two bronze Olympic medals. Singapore has also amassed a total of 41 gold, 59 silver and 117 bronze medals at the Asian Games.
Sports in Singapore can be traced back to the colonial times where the earliest official records on sports were found. Sports had an important role to play as it helped to fill the idle hours for the colonials who had to wait for months for news of home from mail ships. It also offered an alternative to other activities such as the amateur local theatre scene and the "stiff dinner parties".
In colonial Singapore, the development of sports were shaped by diverse cultural backgrounds and a hierarchical social structure. Sports during those times was very much a luxury and was only for the privileged few. The average local had few, if any, opportunities to indulge in sporting activities. For most, simply trying to make a living took up most of their time. Moreover, the older sports clubs were established mainly for the colonials. Early sporting events were marked by limited participation and segregation along racial lines.
Upon independence, sport initially facilitated wealth-based class distinctions, but eventually became a cornerstone of nation-building. Since 1964,[2] a Pesta Sukan (Festival of Sport) has accompanied annual National Day celebrations, with the city having hosted the 1973 SEAP Games.[3] In that year, the Singapore government formed the Singapore Sports Council (now Sport Singapore), aiming to increase national cohesion and productivity. In 1984, a College of Physical Education was launched to produce specialist teachers for physical education, with school sport having generally grown in importance.[4][5] The Ministry of Defence considers sport important in the context of ensuring that male students are fit for military service.[6]
Since the 1990s, the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme has improved Singapore’s showings in international events by helping to acquire athletes born abroad.[7] In general, the nation now invests more resources into elite sport due to its greater affluence.[8] In 2000, the Ministry of Community Development was given a sport portfolio because sport was identified as an important part of Singapore taking its place among developed nations.[6]
Recreational
The most popular sports in Singapore include outdoor sports like football, swimming, track and field, rugby union and cycling as well as various indoor sports like badminton, table tennis and basketball. Floorball has a young history in the country, but is gaining popularity.[9]
Most Singaporeans live in public residential areas with amenities like swimming pools, outdoor spaces (i.e. street football and basketball courts, running tracks)[10] and indoor sport centres, with facilities for badminton, table tennis, squash among others.
As an island city-state, Singapore is surrounded by waters thus, water sports like swimming, water polo, sailing, kayaking, rowing and waterskiing are also popular among Singaporeans.
Domestic competition
Singapore has its own football league, the Singapore Premier League (formerly known as S. League), formed in 1996,[11] which comprises nine clubs, including one based in Brunei.
The Government of Singapore sanctions a variety of sports-based programmes for education in addition to the normal physical education.[17] The National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) was introduced in 1982, a scheme which requires mandatory participation of all students within primary and secondary education. The scheme gives awards for a variety of physical tests for endurance, cardiovascular fitness and strength, including a medium-distance run of 1.6 or 2.4 kilometres for primary and secondary students respectively, and the results are reflected in each student's report book. As such, although gaining an award is not mandatory, students are often pressured to do so.
In addition, the government sponsors the Singapore Sports School, which was established on 2 April 2004, combining a secondary school curriculum with professional training in each student's preferred sport, in an attempt to nurture future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen. The concept behind the Singapore Sports School is that sporting talent should not be compromised when striving for academic excellence.
Singapore has also performed well in subsequent editions of the Youth Olympic Games. To date, the country has won a total of 2 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals. Singapore sent its first 3 winter sport athletes to the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics held in Lausanne, Switzerland.[21]
Rugby was first introduced in Singapore during the late 19th century, when Singapore was still a Crown colony part of the British Empire. It has had a steady presence since the beginning of the 20th century, when the Malay Cup between the Singapore national team and the Malayan national team was established, which was one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world.[22]
In 2006, they were the first and only Asian team that was ever given permission to play in Australia's NBL. They finished the 2006–07 NBL season with a 13–20 record.
1983–1985, Played for FC Groningen. Scored in a shock 2–0 against Inter Milan. In 1999, was voted one of the best 25 players ever to play for FC Groningen, earning him a place in the club's Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was named in the club's best eleven of the twentieth century.
2005, won 3 Golds and 1 Bronze, 23rd Southeast Asian Games
2006, won 1 Gold and 1 Bronze at the 2006 Asian Games, another 1 Gold and 1 Bronze at Milo Asia Swimming Championships
2007, won 4 Golds, 24th Southeast Asian Games
2008, made it into the finals for the 100m butterfly event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, set two Asian records and the national record in the process, became the eighth fastest butterfly swimmer in the world and the first Singaporean swimmer to enter an Olympic final.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
