Sport in the British colony of Singapore (1819–1900s): formation, diffusion and development

Abstract

This article traces and examines the development of sport in Singapore through its initial incipient phase of development (1819-1860s) and on into its colonisation (1860s-1900). The discussion focuses on three main levels of diffusion: New Year's Day Sports, clubs and schools. It seeks to illuminate and discuss the immanent dynamics in the initial phases of sportisation during the colonial period and reflects upon their impact upon the development of sport in independent Singapore. The diffusion of sport in Singapore will be discussed in light of Elias's tenet that when the degree of state-centralisation and monopolisation is low, the interdependencies between different social groups are relatively lower but within each group are relatively higher. It will show the diffusion of sport on different class levels and how sport developed from a relatively unorganised and exclusive form to a relatively more organised institution and how this process was intertwined with the social development of Singapore as well as with the global development. This resulted in a process of sporting development that was uneven and riven with division.