3000 athletes competing in 16 sports categories participated. The event had the participation of 177 teams, making it the highly participated in games till date. There were 64 local teams, 97 travelled from interstate and 8 teams represented regional parts of Australia. Eight teams participated from overseas with the most number of players flying from New Zealand and Malaysia. Soccer had the most number of players with over 1200 participants competing in different age groups and both enders. As per the report release by the managing committee, the entire event was managed by volunteers and the local community. These facts show the importance of these events which may be called as Mini Olympics. Further, during all these years, the event has not remained confined to sports. The cultural events are also there. During these games beside the opening Gala, a mega cultural night at Kings School North Parramatta, a Sikh Forum at Rydges Hotel Bass Hill, an exhibition of Sikh portrature by south Australian artist Daniel Connell, and exhibition of Punjabi sat depicting traditional musical instruments and farming and kitchen implements, and a kirtan tour of Sydney Gurdwaras were also organised. It can, thus, be stated that despite a bigger population of Sikhs in countries like UK, USA and Canada, nowhere, such a big event is organized annually. However, these better Sikh populated countries are now thinking of starting such events and if all goes well, the day is not far of when international Sikh games will be held under the Australian lead. Amandeep Singh Sidhu (Contact No. +61431197305) and Shri Pardip Pangly are the President and the Secretary of this wonderful organization. Parambir Kaur Sangha from sports and cultural Sikh Association, Sydney represents woman in the organization.
Sikh Sports Association of USA
Sikh Sports Association of USA is a non-profit organisation which was established by the like-minded people in 2006 to develop , nurture and promote sports among different communities. Its main objectives have been to promote and encourage the development of amature athletes , to promote ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Mind’ thorugh sports, to collaborate with other organisations in promoting and conducting sports events, Encourage and remain committed to the fundamental values of sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and spirit of fair play, To sponsor and support promising athletes and to encourage and promote a positive and drug-free life style.
Guru Gobind Singh Children’s Foundation
When some Sikh children and youth of Scarborough (GTA, Canada) participated in a 50 km Charity Relay run-a-thone organised for the hospital for sick Children, this gave them the feeling that children and youth could focuss their energies and do sewa in such a way that the humanity on the whole is benefitted. They hosted a dinner on 23rd January 1999 when a plan for 500 km Charity relay run-a-thone from Toronto to Ottawa was presented to be a commemorative event for the 300th year celebration of the Birth of Khalsa. The plan was executed and July 11 to 17, 1999 children with the help of older youth and parents completed the relay run that started at Dixie Gurdwara and finished on the steps of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Over 300 children took part, of which 51 children and youth ran all seven days. On the journey and with every step of the 582 km route to Parliament Hill the children and youth showed the spirit of the Sikh Gurus and thereby established the Guru Gobind Singh Children’s Foundation with the blessings of Waheguru. Since then the Foundation has been continuing to organise and participate in events to aid the local Canadian and global communities. Its contributions have been acknowledged by Canadian leaders, like Ontario’ Premier and Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, international celebrities, like Fauja Singh, and global NGOs, like UNICEF.
The main aim of the organisation is to engage the children and the youth in positive persuits and avoid such things like loitering, joining gangs etc. Every year, the race marathon is organised to raise funds for some charitable cause. Mention need to be made of their dream run which started from St. John’s Newfoundland and ended in Vancouver, BC covering a total distance of 6779 km. this epic run had made history on July 1, 2009. In total there were one hundred runners and volunteers who took part and ran relay format for 61 days. Along the way the runners met with local communities and experienced the beauty of Canada. The run ended in Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia on August 30, 2009. The reason for the Children’s Run Across Canada was to raise money for children’s hospitals in Canada and a health project in Liberia, Africa. In total $154,000 was raised by the children and youth through donations and pledges. Again, a memorable marathon was held from Dixie Road Gurdwara in Mississauga in the western part of GTA to the Gursikh Sabha Gurdwara in Scarborough, wherein Fauja Singh, the Legendry Sikh runner participated. Certain other events are also organised for the benefit of the community. Among these events, are included Annual Seniors Trips, whereby, the seniors citizens are taken to some significant place. They not only enjoy the journey but also the company. For example, in 2018 the seniors were taken to black creek pioneer village on 18 August. In this trip, they got a chance to see and experience how the first settlers devolved the land and lived in Ontario. This organisation is managed by a Board of Trustees and volunteers. The present Board of Trustee consists of Amandeep Kaur, Gurleen Kaur, Prabhleen Kaur, Amarjeet Singh and Jasjeet Singh. The contact details of this organisation are address Guru Gobind Singh Children’s Foundation, 905, Middlefield Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1V 4X1, Canada, Phone : 416-564-3939, Email : mail@ggscf.com
