Sports in Singapore can be traced back to colonial times where early official records of matches and tournaments were found. Its function was simple: to make bearable, the long wait of news from home for the Colonials.

In addition, it provided an alternative to other less action-orientated activities such as the local amateur theatre and dinner parties. It is important to realize that sports were very much a luxury during those times, available only to the privileged few. The locals had few, if any, opportunities to indulge in such activities, preferring to concentrate on making ends meet.

Also, sports clubs were mainly established by colonials to be used by their own kind. With the influx of Asian immigrants, various communal clubs began to sprout to serve their respective communities such as the Chinese Swimming Club, the Indian Association and the Ceylon Sports Club. These, together with the colonial clubs played a key role in the development of sports in early Singapore.

Associations for specific sports were also formed during this time such as the Singapore Rifle Association, Football Association of Singapore and the Singapore Rugby Union. Such sports clubs eventually became National Sports Associations we know today. With the growing interest in sports, the British Colonials built a number of public sports facilities during the 1930s to 50s. Mt Emily Swimming Complex, Farrer Park Sports Complex and Yan Kit Swimming Complex are such examples. Some of these facilities have since undergone major changes.