Fresh from announcing record entries this year, the Zespri AIMS Games is set to expand even further with the addition of surfing and orienteering in 2024.
The annual intermediate-aged sporting tournament, which has attracted nearly 12,000 entries for the 2023 edition, has recognised the large growth in both surfing and orienteering, as well as the complementary roles they play in numerous other sports.
“We’re seeing a huge growth in orienteering, both in schools and nationally, so getting it into the Zespri AIMS Games and having it celebrated and recognised as something of a mainstream sport is awesome,” says Orienteering Bay of Plenty president Erin Swanson.
It’s also a further boost for surfing, on the back of leading Kiwis Billy Stairmand and Saffe Vette qualifying for the Paris Olympics this week in El Salvador. Bay Boardriders President James Jacobs says with the Zespri AIMS Games hosted in Tauranga, the inclusion of surfing just makes sense.
Non-traditional sports have exploded in popularity in recent years, reflected in AIMS Games interest, with codes like 3×3 basketball, rock climbing and mountain biking flourishing. It’s hugely exciting for the likes of 11-year-old Mount Maunganui Intermediate surfer Haru Marsden, who will make his AIMS debut this year playing football but will then switch focus to his other sporting love next year. It’s a slightly different story for 12-year-old Rotorua Intermediate pupil Ryan Lei, who will compete in Futsal for the second year in a row at this year’s tournament from September 2-8.
AIMS Games Trust chair Henk Popping says both surfing and orienteering put forward compelling cases for inclusion and the tournament was delighted to include them from next year.
Credit: sunlive.co.nz
