More than 3,000 athletes and up to 90,000 spectators are expected to descend on a range of venues throughout the City of Casey including Casey Stadium during the games.

Competitors from around Australia will compete in 14 sports ranging from traditional games such as kabaddi and tug-o-war to more contemporary sports such as cricket.

The games are a celebration of Sikh culture, promote physical activity and health and wellbeing, and provide the whole community the opportunity to tap in to a unique sporting and cultural experience.

Some 135,000 visitors from India visited Victoria in the 12 months ending September 2017, spending $373 million – a 29 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

Events like these will boost these figures as the Victorian Government implements its ambitious plan – Victoria’s India Strategy: Our Shared Future – to nearly triple the expenditure by Indian visitors to Victoria.

The Sikh Games was secured through the Victorian Government’s $17.7 million Significant Sporting Events Program, the $20.7 million Regional Events Fund and the Multicultural Festivals and Events Program.

The Significant Sporting Events Program will secure more than 300 sporting events for Victoria over the next four years. More than half of those will be held in regional Victoria, bringing competitors and tourists to local towns, stimulating local economies and getting more Victorians active and healthy through sport.

The 32nd Annual Australian Sikh Games will be held from 19-21 April 2019 in Casey.