As an athlete, it is important to look after your body and appreciate your supporters - that is the message two international sporting champions had for those competing in this week's AIMS Games.
The Anchor AIMS Games was officially opened with a ceremony at the ASB Baypark Arena yesterday afternoon, attended by thousands of athletes, families and school representatives.
The ceremony opened with a cultural performance by a kapa haka group made up of intermediate-aged students from five schools including Tauranga Intermediate School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou, Te Wharekura o Mauao, Te Kura o Matapihi and Mount Maunganui Intermediate School, before two Otumoetai Intermediate School students performed the national anthem.
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MC Greg Cummings welcomed everyone to the opening ceremony describing the 14th AIMS Games as "a massive event", which this year consisted of more than 300 schools participating including 72 new schools and 10 schools coming from overseas, with more than 10,000 athletes competing in 21 different sports.