Article added: Monday 09 September 2024

By Cira Olivier

Like the Olympics, school flag-bearers held their flags high as they crossed the stage at the Zespri AIMS Games opening ceremony - a first for the tournament.

Only, this is bigger.

In its 20th year, with nearly 13,000 students - overtaking the 10,500 at the Paris Olympics 2024 - it’s also the largest AIMS Games ever.

A record 395 schools from Northland to Southland have entered across the 27 sporting codes, surpassing last year’s record 371 schools, including welcoming back international schools from the Cook Islands and Fiji.

Six of the 27 codes had already kicked off the week-long tournament ahead of the two opening ceremonies at Mercury Baypark yesterday.

It was hard to hear yourself think through the excited, partying students until Tauranga Intermediate School’s powerful kapa haka performance silenced everyone and raised goosebumps on arms.

The evening’s MC, former radio host and well-known Tauranga personality Will Johnston, then kept the crowd’s buzzing energy alive.

A live performance of bangers ‘About Damn Time’ by Lizzo and ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ by Whitney Houston, impromptu dance-offs, worms down the isles, group mana waves, pumping beats, a massive ball race, and a guest appearance by New Zealand music star Kaylee Bell were part of the mix.

AIMS Trust chairperson Henk Popping remembers the first opening ceremony in 2004 was held at Tauranga Intermediate School with 760 athletes from 17 schools competing in four sports - hockey, football, netball, and cross country.

He related this to the crowd of 5000, at one of the two ceremonies now needed.

Popping reminded everyone to soak it all in, do your best and have fun.

Former AIMS Games athlete and Olympic speed climber Julian David spoke, alongside Black Ferns Sevens players and gold medalists Michaela Blyde, Shiray Kaka and Sarah Hirini, Black Sticks striker and two-time Olympian Sam Lane, and Ultraman world champion Simon Cochrane.

Auckland’s Point England School has brought a mixed netball team of Year 8 students for the first time, and they’re gunning for gold, first-time player Willy Fisilau, 13, said.

His mate, Produes Edmonds, is playing netball for a second year, and reckoned his secret weapon is his footwork which he’s brought over from playing rugby.

Their teammate, Amiqau Lauvaka, 12, has the most experience in the team, and said while there was some pressure, she was excited to play with her be

Johnston sat down with six sporting legends and spoke to them about their sporting heroes, favourite food, favourite animals, and advice they had.

Former AIMS Games athlete and Olympic speed climber Julian David said his first time trying the sport was in the 2018 AIMS Games where he came third. He dropped football and the rest is history.

“Hopefully you can be here in four or five years.”

Black Ferns Sevens players and gold medalists Michaela Blyde, Shiray Kaka and Sarah Hirini lit up the crowd.

Blyde spoke of writing in her journal before games and listening to aggressive music.

Hirini, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee last year, said it was good for teammates to wrap around those injured and keep them smiling.

Kaka, who also experienced a disappointing injury this year, said it was important to enjoy things other than the sport.

Black Sticks striker and two-time Olympian Sam Lane said his biggest sporting highlight was going to the Olympics

Ultraman world champion Simon Cochrane whose sport is essentially a “super long-distance” triathlon over three days’ advice was to “only worry about the things you can control,” like good food, sleep and low stress, and sticking to what you know.

Tauranga Mayor and Olympic medalist Mahé Drysdale said it was “always a thrill” to see the sports fields and facilities fill up and told everyone to “go hard”.

“You never know, we may have a few future Olympic champions in this room. With a dream, hard work, and a bit of perseverance, anything is possible,” he said.

“What I learnt from sport is if you give it your best and have fun, you’ll want to come back and do it again.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also made a cameo appearance.