After two years, 350 schools across 23 sports will compete in the Zespri AIMS Games across the Western Bay of Plenty from today, September 3 to Friday, September 9.

More than 25,000 athletes, officials and supporters are expected to come to the city for the tournament.

The premier sporting event for 11, 12 and 13 year olds is a strategic partnership between Sport Bay of Plenty, Tauranga City Council and the four Western Bay of Plenty intermediate schools. The week-long 2022 tournament has received 10,842 entries.

The 2020 games were cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and event restrictions meant the 2021 tournament was postponed until this year. Indoor cricket has been added as the 23rd sporting code to the 2022 AIMS Games.

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan says they are 'thrilled” to see the games returning this year, along with the positive impacts it brings to the Bay of Plenty.

'The Zespri AIMS Games are always a much-anticipated feature in our region's annual events calendar, so we're thrilled that this multi-national sports tournament is returning, and we're delighted to be supporting it with the Regional Events Fund,” says Oscar.

'Our forward-looking accommodation bookings are showing a clear surge on the Zespri AIMS Games dates.

'What makes this event unique is its week-long duration and the positive impact this has on mid-week bookings when holiday accommodation is usually a bit quieter.

'Motels and larger apartments are proving among the most popular types of accommodation, with motels in Mount Maunganui and Tauranga almost fully booked from the 3rd of September. This makes sense, given many of those visiting are likely to be part of large sports groups. That said, other types of accommodation are also seeing high booking levels across that week.

'Further afield, we can see that holiday home and apartment providers in the Waihī Beach, Katikati and Te Puke areas are also likely to be benefitting from Zespri AIMS Games bookings."

Zespri AIMS Games tournament director Kelly Schischka says re-introducing the games this year is "very exciting".

"It's been a really busy last few weeks building up to the tournament, with so many enquiries and last-minute team changes, but we totally get it," says Kelly.

"Schools, parents and entire communities have been under so much pressure, not only with Covid-19 but with a host of other illnesses this year and it's actually a real privilege for us to be actually staging the tournament this year.

Zespri AIMS Games tournament director Kelly Schischka is preparing for this year's event, which starts in Tauranga today, September 3. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media.

"We hope we can provide a golden ray of sunshine for what has otherwise been a pretty dreary winter for a lot of people.

"It's really exciting to introduce indoor cricket to the Zespri AIMS Games whanau this year and we can't wait for the 120 cricketers to join in on the experience of sharing memories with 10,000 other like-minded peers.

We've also introduced 7-aside hockey and Fast-5 netball, while our canoe sprinters get to race right under the noses of the public this year, in Pilot Bay. Sports are constantly redefining what they offer to this particular agegroup of athlete and we're always a little bit ahead of the curve when it comes to introducing sports and different formats.

"Above all, after two years without the tournament, we're just so delighted to welcome the Zespri AIMS Games back to Tauranga.

"I sense the city has really missed it, especially with the buzz and energy it brings. The incredible team that makes this event happen has worked so hard to get it over the line this year and I'm so proud of what they've managed to achieve."