After months of anticipation, the sixth NZCT AIMS Games kicked off on Sunday with a glittering opening ceremony at Queen Elizabeth 2 Youth Centre.

The NZCT AIMS (Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools) Games were established in 2004 to provide sporting challenges for Year 7 and Year 8 students.
From small beginnings back in 2004, when the four Western Bay Intermediate schools of Tauranga, Otumoetai, Mount Maunganui and Te Puke started the AIMS Games – the event is now the largest school sporting event in the country.
The NZCT AIMS Games has grown in six years, from 900 participants competing in four sports, to over 3000 athletes taking part in 13 sports.
A spectacular opening ceremony, in front of a full house at the QE2 Youth Centre, set the scene for five days of intense competition this week. While there were the usual formalities of welcome, from AIMS Games chairman Brian Diver and Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby, there were also two outstanding displays that thrilled the youngsters.
World hip-hop champions, Sweet and South from West Auckland, put on an explosive performance of non-stop hip-hop action.
Guest speaker Barbara Kendal gave the keynote address to the competitors and officials and also thrilled the audience with her Dancing With the Stars partner Jonny Williams.
The Olympic board sailing gold medallist recalled a simple story she was told by a young girl prior to her first Olympics. 'Absolutely aim for the top – don't skite if you win, don't cry if you lose. Go out there and play really hard and play fair.
Day one saw competition for the first medals of the tournament at the cross-country at Waipuna Park. Western Bay runners performed with distinction winning two individual titles, and four team gold medals.
Tauranga Intermediate, which is one of the host schools, had plenty to celebrate in the Girls Year 8 race when Isabella Kirk crossed the finish line at the head of the chasing pack. Te Puke Intermediate runner Jessica Bitcheno, who won the Girls Year 7 race, posted a time of 11 minutes 51.19 seconds, just six seconds behind the time of the winner of girls Year 8 race.
For the fifth time in six years, Tauranga Intermediate won the 12km mixed relay, in a time of 42 minutes 34.49 seconds. While the Western Bay team shot out to a big lead, Peachgrove Intermediate reeled them in to take the lead two thirds of the way through the race. Year 7 Tauranga runner Cameron Wells regained the advantage for his school with Tauranga going on to post an emphatic victory.
One of the real advantages of staging the NZCT AIMS Games in the Western Bay of Plenty is the close proximity of a large number of venues. A hub around Blake Park in Mount Maunganui sees Badminton, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Netball, Squash and Tennis taking place, within a few hundred yards of each other.

For all the action all week - keep an eye out for stories and photos on Sun Live.