This article was published in Journeys Winter 2020. Click here to read more articles featured in this issue. 

The first SAS-ISB games were held in 1962 and for most of the decade were the high point of sports at SAS. High school US History teacher Julian Chun and the SAS contingent traveled to Bangkok by train that year with a dozen students. Groen fondly recalls, “On the way back, the train stopped somewhere in a small town in Malaya. We stayed there overnight, two to a bed.” 

March 21, 1964. Endorsed by the student council, Singapore American School put on a fashion show to raise funds for their athletes to travel to Bangkok, Thailand by air for the legendary Singapore-Bangkok Games at the International School of Bangkok (ISB). 

The show was titled "Passport to Fashion," and true to its intent, proceeds from the show funded the first SAS student air travel to play in another country. Class valedictorian and president of the student council, Clifford Groen (Class of 1964), who later went on to pursue degrees at Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, was on that flight and part of the team accompanied by coach Kasi as the schools battled it out in badminton, basketball, bowling, cross country, table tennis, softball, and volleyball. 

In the late 60s, the program settled into a groove, with soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, and track and field as part of the official SAS-ISB games. A much larger school than SAS at the time, ISB boasted a student strength of 3,300 in 1968. The Vietnam war had increased American presence in Thailand dramatically, and ISB had a large number of military dependents. Even though it was three times the size of SAS, the competition between the two schools was intense. Nail-biting finishes with the ultimate triumph resting on one or two sports was the order of the day! In 1963, SAS managed a praiseworthy tie when debate was included in the competitions. The year 1969 saw SAS’s first overall victory—made sweeter when taking into account the difference in student numbers between the rivals. 

In the early years, SAS did not want girls to participate in the Singapore-Bangkok Games. As early as 1964, ISB had proposed including girls in the games, but the SAS board rejected the proposal. There were no budgetary considerations and the games were played during school holidays. The only reason for rejection had to have come from a fear of their daughters traveling to Bangkok, where there were a large number of US servicemen on leave. It wasn’t until 1969 that girls were included in overseas games. The same year, they were also equal partners in the SAS-ISKL games. 

Locally, SAS girls were powerhouses in swimming, softball, track and field, and volleyball. SAS had girls teams in three age groups and they were a considerable success, winning many more district titles than the boys all through the decade. 

The seeds of the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asia School (IASAS) organization were planted during the Singapore-Bangkok Games. In 1980, the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) asked to participate in this event, creating what then became known as the Triangular Games. It was around this time that the idea of forming an athletic conference for regional international schools began to develop. 

After months of tossing the idea around and a meeting of like-minded athletic directors from schools in the region, IASAS formally started in the fall of 1982. The initial conference was made up of four schools: Jakarta International School* (JIS), SAS, ISKL, and ISB. International School Manila (ISM) joined the conference the next year, while Taipei American School (TAS) joined the group in 1986, creating the six-school conference that has flourished ever since. 

Originally the idea was limited to athletics, but at the urging of an SAS art teacher, a cultural component was also instituted that very first school year. Over the years, more cultural, artistic, forensic, and math events were soon added to this athletic partnership. Today the wide-ranging IASAS activities include badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, cross country, dance, debate, drama, forensics, golf, math contests, Model United Nations, music, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. 

Since that first flight funded by "Passport to Fashion," Eagle athletes have traveled hundreds of times over the last 38 years of competition. More than 260 gold medals in sports. Myriad performances, contests, and competitions in all sorts of disciplines. 

Since that fall of 1982, SAS has remained one of the top contenders in the region! Today, more than 400 high schoolers at SAS participate in multiple IASAS events and competitions throughout the school year. 

As our Eagles push themselves to their limits while maintaining the integrity of the ultimate competitor, they continue to display determination, self-sacrifice, and perseverance—the Eagle Way! 

*In 2014, Jakarta International School changed its name to Jakarta Intercultural School

Special thanks to Clifford Groen (Class of 1964) for offering interesting insights into sports at SAS in the 1960s. 

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Journeys, our print publication, shares current, in-depth stories written by and for members of our school community. It is mailed to current families, faculty, staff, and alumni in December and June. If you are interested in contributing an article to Journeys, email communications@sas.edu.sg. Read more articles here.