Each year the number of teams participating in the Sikh games has generally increased, with an exception of two years, the 2005 games, held in Renmark and the 2008 games, held in Perth. This, along with other available data, shows that there is strong participation from cities along the East Coast, and a drop off in participation when the games have been held in a West Coast city or a rural area. In order for the games to be a truly uniting experience for Sikhs, it should be endeavoured for all Sikh Games, no matter where they are held, to always hold a high level of significance and hence to inspire participation, from all Sikhs both nationally and internationally.

This year, the Sikh games have almost 115 teams participating, including the teams for cultural events, making it the most highly participated in games yet. So in twenty-three years, the games have grown to approximately twenty-three times what they were when they first started.

This year’s participants are comprised of: 

• Kabbadi: 18 teams
• Soccer: 31 teams
• Cricket: 26 teams
• Volleyball: 10 teams
• Touch football: 8 teams
• Netball: 4 teams
• Field Hockey: 5 teams
• Tug of War: 3 teams
• Golf ,
• Wrestling,
• Athletics,
• Bhangra,
• Giddha and
• Gataka teams.

The age of participants ranges from those participating in the under-13s to those in the over-45s category. There are 5 Women Soccer teams and 4 Women Netball teams. So the participation is well spread across all age groups and both genders. There are 30 local teams and the remaining 85 teams are travelling from interstate and overseas. Two teams are participating from New Zealand and Singapore.  

The annual Sikh games are a meeting point for Sikhs from all over Australia. We must now ask ourselves how these games can be utilized better to discuss problems faced by the Sikh community; whether it be economic, social, religious, political, educational or any other. In the coming years the Australian Sikh community must deal with many issues, such as the wave of immigration of Sikh students who require guidance and support in order to adjust to and embrace their new lives here in Australia. The active involvement of these students in the organisation and participation in the Sikh games should now be encouraged.