Any doubts about the growing prestige and importance of the NZCT AIMS Games can be dispelled by a glance through this year's guest list.
Among those taking an active role in this year's event - which begins at the weekend - are New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, New Zealand Breakers basketball star CJ Brunton and coach Dave Mackay, and former Silver Fern and Bay of Plenty Magic netballer Jodi Tod.
Tietjens' name is, of course, synonymous with rugby sevens, the sport that features in this year's AIMS Games for the first time. He will speak at a special social function for officials and supporters, while Brunton and Mackay will run coaching clinics during the week and Tod will run a session for coaches, officials and parents.
The rugby sevens competition has attracted 22 boys' and three girls' teams and will be held at the Tauranga Domain, one of the most picturesque rugby grounds in the country.
Ian Spraggon, a legend in primary school rugby, will direct the sevens tournament. Spraggon has been associated with Tai Mitchell and Roller Mills representative rugby for more than four decades
"I am excited to see rugby sevens make the NZCT AIMS Games for the first time," he says. "There is a good spread of teams from the North and South Islands, with the tournament a virtual intermediate schools' sevens national championship."
In a departure from previous years, the first competitive event - traditionally the cross country - will take place before the opening ceremony on Sunday evening. The other sports in the games are badminton, football, golf, gym sport, hockey, multisport, squash, swimming, tennis and water polo, all taking part at venues across the region.
New benchmarks have already been set at the 2010 Games.
With entries from a record 107 schools, the 100 school mark has been broken for the first time.
The participation of more than 3870 young athletes has also set a new record, with a myriad of officials, coaches and managers adding to the huge numbers that have booked out accommodation in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Record numbers head to AIMS Games
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