Pesta Sukan: Running Through Time

Pesta Sukan: Running Through Time

Pesta Sukan, or the Festival of Sports is where sportsmanship and community spirit unite. The festival has been integral to our annual National Day celebrations. It has since evolved into a key national event, where Singaporeans from all backgrounds come in the thousands to celebrate unity and sports participation.

Athletics has been on sporting calendars since the very first Olympic Games in 776BCE. Singapore joined this storied legacy with our first Athletics Association in 1935 and featured prominently in the first Pesta Sukan event. Pesta Sukan has been a cornerstone of Singapore’s track and field history, showcasing generations of national athletes. From Chee Swee Lee’s breakthrough performances in the 1970s to Shanti Pereira’s record-breaking sprints today, the festival has celebrated athletic excellence.

Shanti powers through the finish line, capturing a moment of triumph. Photo credit: Team Singapore

Other legends like C. Kunalan, UK Shaym, and Marc Louis also rose through the ranks during Pesta Sukan’s early years, helping to establish athletics as a national passion. Meanwhile, James Wong known for his prowess in discus and shot put represents the strength and versatility of Singapore’s field athletes.

Mr C Kunalan during the early years. Photo credit: Sport Singapore

Pesta Sukan has also encouraged mass community participation, exemplified by the 1974 National Big Walk. This event connected seven starting points island-wide, each covering about 8km, culminating at the National Stadium to promote fitness for all.

The 2018 introduction of para-category marked a significant milestone, reinforcing Pesta Sukan’s commitment to inclusivity and broadening the festival’s reach to athletes of all abilities.

Para-athletes Muhammad Diroy Bin Noordin. Photo credit: Team Singapore

Today, Singapore’s athletics landscape continues to evolve. Programmes like Athlete Life Management, run by High Performance Sport Institute, supports young athletes in balancing elite sport with education and career planning. Athlete Life Management aims to empower our athletes to “win” in sports and “win” in life through a proactive, structured and deliberate plan where normative and non-normative transitions in the various life stages are catered for while they pursue sports. The opening of the Singapore Sports School in 2004 also marked a turning point, nurturing talent from a young age and providing the foundation for sustainable sporting excellence.

From first steps on the track to podium finishes on the world stage, athletics at Pesta Sukan tells the story of a nation in motion - where every stride counts, and every athlete adds to a growing legacy.