One of the city's biggest sporting and cultural events - the Sikh Games has been cancelled for 2020.
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The Shaheedi Tournament is organised by Griffith's Gurdwara Singh Sabha Society and the 24th edition of the event was set to attract thousands of people to the district over the June long weekend.
However the rules around public gatherings, which are restricted to just 10 people from Friday, May 15 have ended hope of the event going ahead this year.
Gurdwara management committee president Parshotam Singh said the committee believes the restrictions won't be eased to the degree needed in the near future which has led to the event's postponement.
"COVID-19 and the resulting government restrictions on large public gatherings and travel, and based on the advice from relevant government health departments and other stakeholders were the key factors to postpone the 24th Games to June 2021," Mr Singh said.
"After assessing the potential impact of the spread of COVID-19 on the Sikh Games 2020, the committee have decided to postpone the games to next year in the interests of the health and safety of athletes and the wider community.
"This decision has been taken after advice from relevant government health departments and other stakeholders."
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The Games attract Sikh athletes, spectators and their families from around Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
"All these visitors stayed in Griffith and surrounding towns as far as Narrandera and contribute to the local economy and tourism industry in Griffith and surrounding towns," Mr Singh said.
"It is estimated in 2019 the Sikh Games added over $3 million to the local economy."
The games have been a fixture on the June long weekend at Ted Scobie Oval for the last 23 years and this year is the first time the event will not go ahead.
"Twenty-four years ago the Sikh Games stared as very small event where it was only attend by the Sikh community of 100 to 200 people," Mr Singh said.
"The 23rd Sikh Games were attended by over 12,000 people from Australia and other parts of the world."