THE Gurdwara Singh Sabha Society Griffith will host the 23rd Shaheedi Memorial Tournament over this June long weekend.
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Known colloquially as the "Sikh Games", the tournament will be held in the city from 9am on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9.
However, the tournament actually started on Wednesday at 9am with a 48-hour holy reading at the gurdwara, the Sikh place of worship, in Hanwood.
The reading finished on Friday morning, providing a lead-in to start the games on Saturday morning.
A spokesman for the organising committee said the games were a huge event for the Australia Sikh community, as well as being known internationally.
"On the Australian Sikh calendar there are two big events," the spokesman said.
"The Australian Sikh Games is held every Easter long weekend and it moves from city to city. Last year was Sydney, this year was Melbourne, next year is Perth.
"The Griffith games always stays in Griffith. There is no other thing happening on the Sikh calendar this weekend."
Events range from the "serious" competitive sports such as volleyball, kabaddi, tug-of-war, soccer and wrestling, to fun games.
A number of community groups and organisations will have information stalls set up as part of the games and the weekend is open to all members of the community to enjoy.
Traditionally based at Ted Scobie Oval, last year the games expanded to West End Stadium for some competitions and will do so again to cater for the increasing number of people expected to be in attendance as spectators and competitors.
"I think we'll go by about 15,000 people this year," the spokesman said.
The organising committee previously received a $20,000 grant from the state government and, with the continued support of sponsors such as Casella Wines and Griffith City Council, used the funding to provide a shuttle bus service between three sites to allow for ease of movement across the weekend.
The bus will run from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, between the temple in Hanwood, the visitor information centre and the ovals.
The federal government also committed to funding for the event during the federal election campaign, which will be used to contribute to the bus service.
Visitors are encouraged to park away from the site and catch the bus to the ovals.
"Use the bus so we can reduce the traffic congestion," the spokesman said. "We are trying to get 300 or 400 cars away from the site."
There will also be a 40kmh speed limit in place for 200 metres around the ovals to slow traffic down in the area.
The weekend's events are all alcohol-free, but there will be free food and drink available. Donations will be collected on Sunday, to be put towards the Griffith Base Hospital.
Over its history the games have raised on average about $6000 per year, meaning somewhere in the vicinity of $130,000 has been raised for the hospital.
While competition is only for Sikh community members, all members of the MIA community are invited to attend as spectators.
The Shaheedi Memorial Tournament provides a huge boost to Griffith businesses.
"It is beneficial to the local community," the spokesman said. "It brings in around about half a million dollars in two days. Businesses do very well."
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/shaheeditournamentgriffith.
Fun and games for all and sundry over the weekend
THERE are a varied events held as part of the annual Shaheedi Memorial Tournament.
They can range of serious sporting endeavours, to more social activities.
Events to be held as part of the competition include volleyball, tug-of-war, senior soccer, wrestling and athletics events for children, and fun games such as ladies musical chairs, turban tying and martial arts exhibitions.
However, the sporting highlight would have to be the senior kabaddi.
Seen occasionally in Australia and well known in Griffith due to this annual display, kabaddi is a high-energy, full-contact team sport that is popular across Asia and in particular the sub-continent, but can now be found being played around the world.
The Griffith competition attracts teams from around the country.
You could compare Kabaddi to British bulldog or rugby league, but that is like comparing apples with oranges.
In kabaddi two teams face off with each occupying its own half of the court.
They take turns sending a "raider" into the opposing team's half and earn points if the raider manages to touch opposing team members and return to the home half, all while taking only a single breath.
However, if the raider is tackled and prevented from returning, the opposing team earns the point.
There are two styles of play in kabaddi - standard and circle.
"Standard" is played internationally with two teams of seven players on a 10x13-metre field in 20-minute halves.
"Circle" style has four forms, including versions where players leave the field once tagged.
The World Kabaddi League follows the Punjabi circle style - which is what is played in Griffith - where players remain on the field for the match as each team accumulates points.
Played on a pitch that is about 22 metres in diameter, matches will run for two 40-minute halves.