New Zealand's biggest sporting event lived up to its reputation when thousands of youngsters lifted the roof of Tauranga's ASB Stadium for the opening of the 11th NZCT AIMS Games.
The 7500 intermediate school athletes from Kaitaia to Dunedin were inspired and entertained by slick music acts and some of New Zealand's greatest sporting heroes last night.
Master of ceremonies Greg Cummings kept the show bubbling from the time it kicked off at 6pm, highlighting how AIMS Games had grown from 750 athletes, 17 schools and four sports to 2014's 7500 athletes, 228 schools and 17 sports.
Tournament chairman Brian Diver announced that next year's games would feature a new sport - sailing.
The opening had polish and flair, with big sound systems and an amazing array of lights, that the Year 7 and 8 students needed no excuses to rise to ear-popping crescendos of noise.