Sports in Singapore

Singapore is one of the most popular and actually the most beautiful places of the world. Every year a huge number of people come to Singapore to explore its endless charming beauty. In Singapore, the lifestyle of the people are really vibrant and includes several aspects like dance, sports, rich culture and traditions, education, music, politics, movies and many more. In Singapore, people are very active about all sorts of sporting events be it basket ball, swimming, badminton, table tennis, gymnastics, squash or volleyball.

Owing to its multicultural history, Singapore has a rich sports culture. People in Singapore love sports and a number of sports and games are patronized in the country. Apart from the modern mainstream games and sports, there are several traditional and indigenous games in Singapore which are a legacy of the many immigrants who have now made the country their home.

In this page you will be provided with an overview of the different features associated with Singapore sports and initiatives of the Singapore Sports Council (SSC). Just have a look at them –

High Participation – An effort of Singapore Sports Council (SSC), this aspect of Singapore sports that is high participation is entirely meant to create platforms for enhancing knowledge sharing and networking. It is mainly targeted towards the youth and working adults of Singapore.

International Events – SSC is completely dedicated towards making Singapore a popular sports hub by creating a calendar full of exciting events and various internationally renowned sports events. The popular sporting events of Singapore include Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, Aviva Open Singapore, Standard Chartered Singapore Sevens and many more.

Sports Excellence – The sports excellence initiative taken by the Singapore Sports Council involves the implementation of several sports management programs.

Sports Facilities – There are several facilities provided by Singapore Sports Council. Some of the sports facilities include sports and recreation centers, gymnasiums, stadiums, sports halls, booking offices, swimming complexes and much more.

Sports Library – The sports library in Singapore was founded in the year 1973. At this library you will find all types of information related with sports.

Sports Medicine – SSC organizes several sports medicine programs that offer a lot of services like sports physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, etc.

Sports Museum – Established in the year 1983, the sports museum preserves and features all the heritages of sports and its history in Singapore.

Sports and Recreational Law – This law of Singapore sports is basically termed harmless and it was enacted in order to offer assistance to any unpleasant situation.

Badminton Association – Founded in the year 1929, Singapore Badminton Association is one of the renowned badminton clubs of the world.

Amateur Athletic Association – The Singapore Amateur Athletic Association was established in the year 1934. It has almost 20 affiliated institutions under it and it has its own team of volunteers and officers.

Mountaineering Federation – Formed in the year 1993, this organization is completely involved in encouraging the sport of mountaineering among the people.

National Olympic Council – Singapore National Olympic Council was founded in the year 1970. Several sports associations of Singapore are the founder members of this council.

Sports Clubs – In Singapore, you will find some of the best sports club having international recognition. Most of the clubs offer facilities such as pool tables, gymnasiums, spas, tennis courts and more.

Stadiums – Bedok Stadium, Bukti Gombak Stadium and Bishan Stadium are some of the popular stadiums of Singapore. They host football matches and are actually considered for multi-use.

Bowling – A popular game of Singapore is bowling. In Singapore there are more than 20 bowling centers.

Diving – This popular sport of Singapore offer you the scope of discovering the wonderful treasures of the world of water.

Gyms – In Singapore, you will find a number of well equipped gyms that are dedicated to meet all your need and requirements associated with fitness and health.

Horse Riding – It is said that if you are in Singapore you must try horse-riding as it is supposed to give you a fun filled experience.

Liliput- Indoor Mini Golf – Covering an area of around 10,000 square feet, this game area of Singapore provides you with all the facilities of entertainment and fun.

Turf Club – The Turf Club of Singapore is one of the places where you can experience fun-filled thrilling races. Initially, only members were allowed to attend the races but nowadays general public can also attend the races.

Skating – This exciting activity can really give you some recreational moments. Various sport centers offer the opportunity of experiencing skating.

Traditional sports of Singapore

Sepak Takraw: In Malay, Sepak means kick. Takraw, in Thai, stands for woven ball. Sepak Takraw is a cross between football and volleyball. Played between two teams with three players in each team, the game requires players to get a small rattan woven ball across the net by using their legs, knees, chest or head. Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands. If you visit Singapore, you can watch the game being played all over the place, especially on beaches.

Capteh: Capteh is Singaporean equivalent of shuttlecock, but with a major difference. Just like Sepak Takraw, feet of players play a very important role in the game since the shuttlecock needs to be kicked up into the air. There is no racket involved in the game. The player who kicks the shuttlecock the maximum number of times wins. In some versions of game, players have to achieve a fixed number of kicks. The first player to reach the target wins the game. The game is played in teams as well. In this format, members of the team take turns in kicking the shuttle.

There are several such traditional sports which are played in the country. Other popular traditional sports and games are Congkak,Five Stones, Bola Tin and Main Lereng.

Modern sports in Singapore

When westerners came and settled in Singapore, they brought several sports which have now become mainstream sports in the country. The government of Singapore encourages sports and has developed a number of sporting facilities for youth. Singapore Sports Council has formed partnerships with international bodies such as NBA to help youth in the country to learn the ropes of various sports. The government also sanctions many programs to augment sports activities in educational institutions.

Basketball: Basketball tops the popularity list of Singapore sports. Singapore is a part of ASEAN Basketball League which consists of six south Asian countries. The team from Singapore is called Singapore Slingers. Thanks to the partnerships formed with NBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Basketball Without Borders (BWB), Singaporean youth can benefit from exposure to international basketball.

Rugby: Legacy of British colonial rule, rugby is growing in popularity in Singapore. Rugby Union of Singapore has a strong presence in the country.

Soccer: Soccer has had a stronghold in Singapore since 1892 and has brought out some amazing players such as Lancelot Maurice Pennefather, Lim Yong Liang, Awang Bakar, Majid Ariff and Fandi Ahmad.

Wresting and Martial Arts: Singapore encourages a whole lot of martial arts. Kung Fu, Qigong, Tai Chi Chuan, Kendo, Samurai Sword Fighting, Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Mixed Marital Arts, Muay Thai and Wushu are just some forms of martial arts that find a place of eminence in Singapore sports scenario.

Motor sports, tennis, swimming, cricket, golf, badminton and athletics are other popular sports in Singapore. Beside these, Singaporeans indulge in a whole lot of recreational and adventure sports such as kayaking, dragon boating, sailing, wind surfing and power boating.

Disclaimer: The data provided here is based on the facts and research using available sources. As the data is made available on "as is" basis and subject to change anytime. This website shall not be liable for any discrepancy found in the data on our site and actual figures.

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