It is a well-known fact that Singapore is a sports-loving country. The government has invested millions of dollars into the development of facilities and training for athletes and hosting international competitions to encourage participation in sports.
Sports have been an integral part of the culture since pre-colonial times. Still, it was not until 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles (then Governor) and William Jervois (then Resident) established the first rules governing games.
The foundation of Singapore Sports History can be traced back to the early 1800s when a group of wealthy Europeans initially brought football, cricket, and rugby into the island country.
This was followed by another wave of British settlers in 1819 who introduced boxing as well as other sports such as horseracing which later became a staple at every major event held on the island nation.
In addition, swimming events were also added to this list, with water polo being played from 1888 until 1918 while rowing contests began shortly after that from 1909 up until 1920 before cycling started becoming popular between 1930 and 1960.
In Conclusion
Today, it is estimated that there are about 50 sporting facilities located across Singapore’s territory, with one-third specifically dedicated for outdoor uses while two-thirds are indoors, including tennis, badminton, and squash courts.