Although Singaporeans are renowned food-lovers and shopaholics, the government has given itself the huge challenge of improving people's fitness levels. Competitive sports are not prominent and the nation's favourite sports are listed as swimming and jogging, with a growing popularity in hockey and tennis. The Singapore Sports Council (tel: 6345 7111; fax: 6340 9537; website: www.ssc.gov.sg) organises sporting activities designed for maximum participation, including national swim and cycle events, and also runs SPEX21 (Sporting Excellence 21), an initiative which aims to bring Singapore to international sporting excellence.

Swimming is popular, with pools in most residential areas, and gyms are equipped with the latest in fitness technology. Singapore is renowned for its acres of golf courses and there are plenty of opportunities for watersports.

The most popular spectator sport is football, and the national team (website: www.fas.org.sg) play at the National Stadium, Kallang, although with a lowly FIFA ranking they rarely make waves even at regional level. The national league, the S-League, (tel: 6348 3477; website: www.sleague.com) was set up in 1994 and has 10 teams from different areas of the city, including one from China (Sinchi FC). Tampines Rovers swept to victory winning both the league and cup double in 2004. Tickets are available at the grounds. English football is immensely popular with regular televised Premier League and European matches; Liverpool and Manchester United have toured Singapore over the past few years to play against local sides.

Singapore Rugby Union's national team (tel: 6467 4038; website: www.sru.org.sg) participates in the Asian league, and also runs the domestic Super League. Every year sees a boozy fiesta of international rugby, at the Rugby 7's held in April at the National Stadium.

The Singapore Indoor Stadium (tel: 6344 2660; fax: 6344 5903; e-mail: contactus@sis.gov.sg; website: www.sis.gov.sg), also at Kallang, hosts the Heineken Tennis Open tournament.

Horseracing is immensely popular, held year-round at the Singapore Turf Club (tel: 6879 1000; fax: 6879 1010; website: www.turfclub.com.sg) at Kranji, providing the only legal outlet for gambling. Races are held most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with the biggest race of the year being the lucrative Singapore Airlines International Cup (May). There is a dress code even in the public stands, with no shorts allowed and a smart-casual look for the Hibiscus Room, which allows visitors.

Rugby and cricket matches are held on the picturesque Padang, at the colonial heart of Singapore. This is the home of the Singapore Cricket Club (tel: 6338 9271; website: www.scc.org.sg) and is members only, although it is possible to watch matches away from the clubhouse. The Singapore Cricket Association (tel: 6348 6566; website: www.cricket.org.sg) runs the national team, which participates in Asian tournaments, and also the domestic league with matches held at weekends.

Information on fixtures, events and venues are available in the local press, and Singapore Sports Council (see above), offers an online sports facilities reservation system.

Bowling: Ten-pin bowling is a popular pastime with over 30 bowling alleys in the city. The Singapore Ten-pin Bowling Congress (tel: 6440 7388; fax: 6440 7488; e-mail: general@singaporebowling.org.sg; website: www.singaporebowling.org.sg) can give details of venues. Most are open 0900-0200; some open 24 hours at weekends.

Fitness Centres: Numerous centres include Ray Wilson California Fitness Center, Grange Road (tel: 6834 2100; fax: 6834 2122; website: www.calfitnesscenters.com), and Fitness-Plus Club, Gallery Hotel, 76 Robertson Quay (tel: 6836 1191; fax: 6836 3433; e-mail: fitplus@pacific.net.sg; website: www.fitness-plus.com.sg or www.interfitness.com). Gym facilities are also available at all the major hotels.

Golf: Singapore allegedly has more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world (18), several of which are of championship quality. In most clubs, non-members are not allowed to play at weekends and are often expected to hold a handicap or proficiency certificate to play at all. Courses include: Changi Golf Club, Netheravon Road (tel: 6545 5133), which has a nine-hole course with green fees from S$40; Keppel Club, Bukit Chermin Road (tel: 6273 5522; fax: 6545 2531; website: www.keppelclub.com.sg), 18 holes from S$110; Raffles Country Club, Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim (tel: 6861 7649; fax: 6861 5293; website: www.rcc.org.sg), two 18-hole courses from S$105; Sentosa Golf Club, Bukit Manis Road (tel: 6275 0022; fax: 6275 0005), two 18-hole courses from S$120. More information on golf courses is available at www.golf-asia.com.

Riding & Polo: The Singapore Polo Club, Mount Pleasant Road (tel: 6854 3999; fax: 6256 6715; website: www.singaporepoloclub.org), hosts polo matches throughout the year on most Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends.

Sailing: Seasport Centre, near Lagoon Hawker Centre, 1212 East Coast Parkway (tel: 6449 5118), can be used by non-members for windsurfing and sailing; while sailing only is available at Changi Sailing Club, 32 Netheravon Road (tel: 6545 2876; fax: 6542 4235; e-mail: enquiry@csc.org.sg; website: www.csc.org.sg).

Scuba Diving: Although lacking crystal-clear waters, Singapore is a good location to complete scuba diving pool training before heading off elsewhere. Dive operators include Big Bubble Centre (tel: 6222 6862; fax: 6222 6862; e-mail: dive@bigbubble.com; website: www.bigbubble.com).

Squash: Courts can be hired at Kallang Squash and Tennis Centre, 52 Stadium Road (tel: 6440 6839), and St Wilfred Squash and Tennis Centre, 3 St Wilfred Road (tel: 6293 3452).

Swimming: All the top hotels have pools and every residential neighbourhood has a public swimming complex. The Singapore Sports Council (tel: 6345 7111; website: www.ssc.gov.sg) can provide additional information.

Tennis: Courts can be hired at Kallang Tennis Centre, Stadium Rd (tel: 6348 1291). See also Squash above.

Water-skiing & Wakeboarding: Despite its sludgy waters, Singapore is one of Asia's top water-skiing and wakeboarding centres. Several centres rent out equipment and also offer professional instruction: Extreme Sports at Kallang Riverside Park (tel: 6344 8813; fax: 6245 6995; e-mail: info@extreme.com.sg; website: www.extreme.com.sg), and Williams Water Sports Centre, Marina Country Club, 600 Ponggol, 17th Avenue (tel: 6257 5859; fax: 6315 6672; e-mail: wwsccon@singnet.com.sg; website: www.williamwatersports.com.sg).