Brian Kelly: AIMS Games bring benefits to Bay

OVer the past week around New Zealand thousands of secondary school students have been competing in what they call tournament week. Whatever their chosen sport, the young sports stars of the future have been trying to win their age group championship for school honours. And it doesn't let up.

This Sunday 4600 plus intermediate school students along with 900 coaches, managers and officials converge on the Bay for the NZCT Aims Games. This is an annual week-long national sporting championship that has been held in the Tauranga area for the past eight years. It's an amazing event and as a parent who's children have competed in the Aims tournament it's brilliantly organised.

It has come a long way from its simple beginnings back in 2004 when there were 22 schools here, 830 competitors contesting just four sports.

This year there are 15 codes being contested with 121 schools taking part in sports such as badminton, basketball, golf, multisport, ruby sevens, tennis and waterpolo. Auckland is well represented with 32 schools and the Bay of Plenty represented by 28 intermediates. This event has to rival rowing's Mardi Cup as one of the largest school sporting events in New Zealand and its set to get even bigger. New sport to this year's Aims games is indoor bowls. Who would have though that our 11 to 13-year-olds would have the choice to play indoor bowls at school? Thirty-six males and 30 females will compete for the first ever Aims Games indoor bowls title.

The light bulb moment for this fabulous event was turned on when two intermediate school headmasters, Brian Diver from Tauranga Intermediate and Henk Popping for Otumoetai Intermediate began chatting on a car journey one day back in 2003. They approached Sport Bay of Plenty with their idea and a year later the first Association of Intermediate and Middle School games was held.

Of course with the thousands of people descending on our beautiful city it obviously poses a bit of a problem on accommodation.

The most popular form of accommodation last year was motels/hotels, with 33 per cent staying there and 24 per cent in camping grounds.

This year it's a different story, with the Mount apartments proving a popular choice.

One of the reasons for that choice is that they come with cooking and laundry facilities so it's easy to take care of the demands of the children.

The economic benefits to an event like this for our community are immeasurable. From transport with the hiring of vans and buses to accommodation and also providing food for the week of the Games.

The games also attract some very special sporting guests. The opening ceremony will be addressed by Olympic rowing legend Rob Waddell. Sarah Ulmer and John Reid will also be in town as guests of the games.

Over the eight years of the games there would have been youngsters who have gone on to represent New Zealand. A couple of locals come to mind. Gemma Flynn has gone on to play for the Black Sticks in hockey. Olivia Chance has worn the Silver Fern in football, Mark Kelly has made the emerging Junior Tall Blacks and Julian Oakley an outstanding representative runner are just a few of probably many from around New Zealand that have worn the Silver Fern who participated in the Aims Games.

The 2011 Aims Games gets under way Sunday evening with the official opening at our New Tect Arena at Bay Park.

I wish all the students, coaches and organisers well and encourage them all to play hard, play fair and enjoy this fabulous experience.