The phenomenal growth in participating intermediate schools at the NZTC Aims Games has seen the event grow from 700 competitors representing 17 schools when it began in 2004, to more than 6000 athletes from 166 schools involved this week.
For the first time three schools from Australia have travelled over,
two to compete and one on a fact-finding mission, to what has become easily the biggest event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tournament director Vicky Semple says her goal before the action started on Sunday was to ensure they kept up the high standards from past years and to celebrate youth sport.
"All our events are run to a national standard and word has spread that the Aims Games is a fantastic tournament and, if you are a competitive sports team, then it is the event to go to," she said.
"We are lucky we have such a great team of superb co-ordinators who have a passion for making sure their tournament is absolutely fantastic."
