AIMS Games about to go international | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Tauranga's sporting success story, the New Zealand Community Trust AIMS Games, has been given $20,000 and flagship status by the city council, launching a new era in which the event is set to go international.

The council this week elevated the AIMS Games to the cream of the city's events and festivals which include the Jazz Festival, the Port of Tauranga Half Iron Man and the Garden and Artfest.

Flagship status for the popular week-long extravaganza - which receives support and coverage from the Bay of Plenty Times, bayofplentytimes.co.nz and Classic Hits 95.0FM - recognised its growing importance to the city's economy and its showcasing of top sporting talent among New Zealand's Year 7 and 8 intermediate school pupils.

AIMS Games chairman Brian Diver said he was delighted with the recognition which they will leverage off to take the event to a new level.

Mr Diver said the $20,000 came with the tag that organisers needed to make the AIMS Games bigger and better.

"It is a hand-up rather than a hand-out."

The plan was to give the event an international flavour next year by inviting overseas teams to compete - with the initial focus on Australia.

"We are trying to get the best of New Zealand's athletes to compete with the best from overseas."

In the meantime, they are busy organising this year's event which kicks off on August 28 with the cross-country and the official opening at Baypark's new TECT Arena indoor stadium.

Mr Diver said that in eight years the event had grown from 25 schools and 700 athletes to 120 schools and over 4600 athletes.

The AIMS Games opening will be one of the first events held in the new stadium which will also host the basketball tournament. Fifteen codes are involved, including a debut for indoor bowls.

Mr Divers said they were dependent on their principal sponsor, the New Zealand Community Trust, and TECT had just come on board.

Tauranga City Council's new flagship recognition and the $20,000 that went with it was the first AIMS Games contribution from city ratepayers since 2005, when it received $800 in seeding money.

Event strategic partners are the council and Sport Bay of Plenty, with Sport Bay of Plenty's Vicki Semple tournament controller.