As someone well over the intermediate-age limit of AIMS Games and who does not have participating children in the tournament, I love everything about the event that brings thousands of budding athletes to the city. Here are my reasons AIMS Games is my favourite sporting event.
Providing intermediate-aged athletes with the taste of a major sporting event to compete in:
Growing up I loved sports tournaments. No matter the size of event being able to represent your school at a sports competition was a highlight of my school years. AIMS Games wasn't around when I was at intermediate but I wish it was. Intermediate is a real in between age. You're a bit too old to be lumped in with the primary school children but you'd get lost at a sports competition that featured high school students.
![Tauranga Intermediate School's Faith Shotton-Brown takes part in gymnastics. Photo / George Novak](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/NWU7C3XPT7U5DBBAZDHEDB2VVE.jpg?auth=876a0aab8fcea94d80dfe73628d3b4b616640e9b7c7eb929e6884941253d4b68&width=16&height=24&quality=70&smart=true)
This is why AIMS Game is so important - these kids get to experience a major sporting event that will prepare them for secondary school competitions and potentially fire them up for higher honours in the future. Getting that taste will no doubt spark, in some budding athletes, a hunger for more, and a confidence in themselves and their abilities through being around same-aged athletes.
Something for everyone:
When I was growing up if you weren't a swimmer or played netball, rugby, touch, athletics or cricket, there wasn't a lot of options to be part of a sports competition. So many kids missed out on the chance to experience a school sports tournament because they were never going to be the first picked for a school representative team. The number of sports available at AIMS Games, caters to just about everyone - whether they are more inclined to the rough sports such as rugby, the less physical activities such as indoor bowls or even the strength-based sports such as rock climbing and even para-sports, there really is something for everyone to be involved, making it an inclusive event.