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More than 4300 children are set to participate in the annual week long NZCT AIMS Games in Tauranga this year.
These students are from 108 schools and with this level of participation it is the largest AIMS Games tournament staged since it began eight years ago.
Netball is one of the 15 sports being contested at the NZCT AIMS Games.
“I anticipated entry numbers would be similar to last year so an increase of over 550 is just staggering,” says tournament director Vicki Semple.
The 4303 students bring with them over 953 coaches, managers and officials and sees Western Bay of Plenty accommodation stretched to full capacity.
“I field calls every day from travelling schools needing help to find accommodation, I have one school utilising the seven new cabins at Mount Maunganui’s Beachside Campground, while another will use the 11 onsite caravans.”
The sporting championship gives Year 7 and 8 students an opportunity to compete against the best of their age in New Zealand across 15 different sports.
Fair play and team work is an important part of the competition and in addition to winners medals, the 30 Auckland, three Christchurch, nine Hawke’s Bay, seven Far North, three Manawatu, one Wellington and two Taranaki schools will strive for the prestigious premier award of the NZCT Teammates Cup that is awarded for overall excellence throughout the tournament. The premier award is judged upon presentation, punctuality, skill and fair play during competition and respect for officials, fellow athletes and supporters.
Olympic gold medal rower Rob Waddell will open the NZCT AIMS Games at the opening ceremony to be held at Tauranga’s Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre on Sunday, August 28.
