Griffith hosted, what may be the biggest event in the town’s history, with more than 20,000 attendees during the King’s Birthday weekend for the 25th Sikh Games.
The annual Griffith Shaheedi Tournament took place over this June long weekend, June 10 and 11 at Ted Scobie Oval, Collina. The Shaheedi Tournament, otherwise known as the Sikh Games is organised by the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Society of Griffith in the memory and honour of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their religion and the Sikh values of life.
This Tournament promotes and keeps alive the most popular sports of Punjab in general. Tournament in Griffith also provide an opportunity for people living in metropolitan cities to visit Griffith and enjoy the hospitality provided by the local community.
This year, the event expanded to a dual-venue tournament for the first time – with Ted Scobie Oval hosting the kabaddi and other traditional events while hockey, volleyball and athletics competitions ran at the new Griffith Regional Sports Centre.
“Every hotel in Leeton and Narrandera, more than an hour away, is already fully booked as at 31 May, 2023”, organiser Manjit Chugha said.
The 2022 Tournament was attended by over 20,000 people from Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
The King’s Birthday weekend event brings in an estimated $5 million to $6 million to the local economy.