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About the Australian Sikh Games
The Punjab region of India is renowned for its sporting history and has a reputation for producing world class athletes. From traditional Indian sports such as kabbadi (wrestling) to adopted sports such as hockey and cricket, Punjabi people and in particular Sikhs from the Punjab, have succeeded at the highest levels. It is no surprise therefore to see that Sikhs have taken their enthusiasm for sport with them across the world.
This was certainly the case in 1987 when members of the Sikh community in South Australia decided to host a friendly hockey tournament.
The event not only brought together people with a passion for their sport but also represented an occasion for the wider community to celebrate its unique cultural identity, as Sikhs and as Australians.
The success of the inaugural tournament, both on and off the sporting field, led to the inclusion of kabbadi and football in the following years. Over time, the rising popularity of these events led to the establishment of the Australian Sikh Games, held annually over the Easter long weekend.
Today, the popularity of the event is such that Games are rotated between the major cities and key regional locations such as the North Coast of NSW and the Riverina in South Australia.
The Games have been held in leading venues such as ANZ Stadium in Brisbane and have regularly attracted competitors and spectators from across Australia and overseas including New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India and the UK.
Organisation of the Games
The Australian Sikh Games are made possible through the help of community organisations from around Australia. These organisations are normally run by volunteers who want to actively contribute to their local Sikh community while also coaching or competing in their chosen sport.
The Australian National Sikh Sports and Cultural Council (ANSSACC) acts as an umbrella body of all partners organisations.
Each year ANSSACC names one of the partner organisations as the next host and hands over responsibility for delivering the Games to a new city around Australia.
Key responsibilities of host organisations include community fundraising, corporate sponsorship, marketing, venue management, sports administration and equipment supply.
