뉴질랜드 인터미디어트 학생들의 스포츠대회 AIMS - 9월6일부터 11일까지

뉴질랜드 인터미디어트 학교 학생들의 스포츠 올림픽대회인 AIMS대회가 올해 9월6일부터 11일까지 타우랑가 일대에서 열립니다.   

뉴질랜드 타우랑가 인터미디어트 학교와 오투모에타이 인터미디어트 학교에서 공동 창설한 대회로 벌써 11회째입니다. 

올해는 요트 세일링도 처음 열리는데 64명의 참가선수들이 이미 등록을 해서 타우랑가 하버의 맑은 하늘과 바람을 가르게 된다고 합니다. 

AIMS대회는 만11세-13세 사이의 학생들이 참가하는 국내 최대 규모의 스포츠 대회입니다.

올해는 뉴질랜드 전국 248개 인터미디어트 학교에서 약 8천명의 선수들이 대회에 참가합니다.  

총 19개 스포츠 종목 중  1152명이 넷볼에,  636명이 럭비에, 644명이 크로스컨트리에 그리고 768명이 농구 대회에 참가한다고 합니다.   

우리 한국 유학생들도 골프, 농구 등 여러 종목에 참가해서 메달을 노리게 됩니다. 

A total of 7845 intermediate-aged athletes from 248 schools from throughout NZ are set to descend on Tauranga in September including 1152 netballers, 636 rugby players, 644 cross-country runners and 768 basketballers.   The AIMS Games, a premier sporting event for children aged 11-13, is a strategic partnership between Sport Bay of Plenty, Tauranga City Council and the four Western Bay of Plenty intermediate schools.

Aquinas College sailor Lachlan Dillon gets some practice on Tauranga Harbour ahead of next month's NZCT AIMS Games. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.

Organised by Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, the sailing format will involve fleet racing in Optimist dinghies. Sailors must be a member of a yacht club affiliated to the national body, and a Year 7 or 8 student.

Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat club commodore Nigel Rippey says they're crossing their fingers for good sea conditions.

“September is sometimes not the ideal time for yachting,” admits Nigel, “but we're going to give it a go and hope we get the good weather.”

Nigel says sailors will rig on the front lawn of the yacht club before launching off the beach to sail directly in front of the club.

“Spectators will be able to watch all of the racing from the deck of the yacht club,” he explains.

“A lot of the schools will come with a support boat so there'll be a lot of rigs on the water.”

Yachting New Zealand's chief executive David Abercrombie is delighted with sailing's inclusion in the games.

“Tauranga is a proven breeding ground for sailing talent having produced the likes of Peter Burling, the Saunders siblings, and the Meech siblings to name a few,” says David.

“So it's very fitting that sailing is added into the programme for this Bay of Plenty-hosted event.”

David says being part of the AIMS Games will help to profile the sport to children, aged 11-13, and their parents.

“We see it as a very positive thing and look forward to working together with the event organisers to make the sailing event a success,” he adds.

Yachting New Zealand collaborated with AIMS Games tournament director Vicki Semple, New Zealand International Optimist Dinghy Association and Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club to put together a comprehensive proposal to introduce sailing into the 2015 programme.  

The AIMS Games, a premier sporting event for children aged 11-13, is a strategic partnership between Sport Bay of Plenty, Tauranga City Council and the four Western Bay of Plenty intermediate schools.

A total of 7845 intermediate-aged athletes from 248 schools from throughout NZ are set to descend on Tauranga in September including 1152 netballers, 636 rugby players, 644 cross-country runners and 768 basketballers.