Action at AIMS GAMES

Boots will be zig zagging through the grass when kids take to field today and participate in Rugby League _ the newest sport to be included in the NZCT AIMS GAMES tournament.

The inclusion of Rugby League has brought the number of sporting codes involved in the tournament to 16.

Rugby League coach force officer Len Reid said they had tried to get the sport included in AIMS GAMES "for years'', they had waited patiently and now they were excited to begin.

There are 12 teams entered in the Rugby League tournament, with teams from Kaitaia to Hastings involved.

Also on today, athletes are taking on the great outdoors in the first day of competition in the Multisport event at McLaren Falls Park.

Today is also the first day of Gymsport competition, held at ARGOS Gymnasium Club in Judea.

Meanwhile, young athletes challenged some of New Zealand's Olympians down at Main Mount Beach yesterday.

The morning was captured on film by TV One Breakfast show host Sam Wallace, who also challenged Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker in a BMX challenge.

The girls' rugby team from Mount Maunganui Intermediate School took on Mahe Drysdale, Juliette Haigh, Ian Seymour and Sarah Walker to a game of touch rugby on the beach.

Twelve sports got underway yesterday and three more have begun today, in addition to Sunday's Cross Country event,  which was the first event to be held at the ninth annual NZCT AIMS GAMES tournament.