AIMS Games to welcome international athletes

New Zealand's largest sporting tournament for Intermediate-aged students, the New Zealand Community Trust AIMS Games, will welcome international athletes to next year's elite tournament.

AIMS Games, held annually in Tauranga, will include elite athletes from Australia and further abroad from next year.

Tournament director Vicki Semple from Sport Bay of Plenty, said details were not confirmed but it was looking positive the 2012 AIMS Games would be attended by a range of international athletes.

"We're obviously targeting Australia and they will be the first port of call but will be targeting other international schools as well," she said.

"Some local schools have sister schools in other countries so we'll be tapping into that and talking with national sporting organisations and getting their involvement as well."

This year the tournament was attended by 121 schools from throughout New Zealand, including over 4600 students and 900 coaches and managers.

Next year, tournament organisers have anticipated further growth.

Mrs Semple said the 2012 AIMS Games tournament could expect more athletes, thanks to the addition of another sporting code - Rugby League. This will bring the number of sports included in the games to 16.

Rugby league will be played at Grenada Park in Mount Maunganui. It will be a combined grade for Year 7 and 8 students, 9-aside and boys only.

"We're really excited about introducing rugby league into the tournament and we anticipate it will bring much growth," Ms Semple said.

"Rugby league is a good fit into the tournament and it will be played with under international rules so will attract international guests," she said.

AIMS Games was awarded $20,000 and flagship status in July last year. At the time, AIMS Games chairman Brian Diver said the $20,000 came with the tag that organisers needed to make the AIMS Games bigger and better.

"We are trying to get the best of New Zealand's athletes to compete with the best from overseas," he said.

AIMS Games are the national sporting tournament for Year 7 and 8 students to compete against the best of their age in New Zealand in 16 different sports. Ms Semple said each of the sports offered in 2012 will be hosted in "superb facilities" where athletes will have the opportunity to perform at their best. "The aim of the event is to provide opportunities for the student in the middle years to compete at an elite level, be active, celebrate fair play and enjoy success and it is through events such as the NZCT AIMS Games that these students will be provided with challenges and the opportunity to perform to a high standard," she said.

The 2012 NZCT AIMS Games tournament will be held between 9-14 September. Sporting codes offered in the tournament are badminton, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymsports, hockey, indoor bowls, multisport, netball, rugby sevens, rugby league, squash, swimming, tennis and waterpolo.