The Zespri AIMS Games Opening Ceremony will entertain and inspire competitors and get the week-long school sporting championships off to an unforgettable start.

With a mix of live performances and official formalities, we can’t wait to welcome the Class of ’24 to the 2024 Zespri AIMS Games!

Sunday 8th September 2024

Show 1 - 3.00pm (doors open 2.00pm) *SOLD OUT*

Show 2 - 7.00pm (doors open 6.00pm) *SOLD OUT*

The length of each show is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

Venue - Mercury Baypark Arena, 81 Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui.

Cost – $25.00 + booking fee per student competitor/child and $35.00 + booking fee per coach/manager/adult supporters.

There is NO LIMIT on the number of tickets a school can purchase.

Additional Booking Fees - $1.15 per ticket; $11.50 one-off invoice fee (if a school requires an invoice to be generated).

We recommend that athletes competing on Sunday purchase tickets to Show 2 of the opening ceremony (7.00pm show). This should be considered particularly for athletes competing in Futsal, Gymnastics (Open MAG and WAG), Rock Climbing (Year 7 competitors), Swimming (Session 1 events) and Yachting.

Monday 29th July – School group pre-sale for opening ceremony tickets commences.

Monday 5th August, 7.00pm – Opening ceremony tickets on sale to the public.

FREE OPENING CEREMONY BUSES

To help everyone get to the Zespri AIMS Games opening ceremonies, there will be FREE dedicated park and ride buses running to and from Mercury Baypark. Park and ride locations for the opening ceremonies are at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa (bus stop located on Parton Road, near the pump track) and Blake Park in Mount Maunganui (bus stop located on Maunganui Road, near Tauranga Netball Centre). With priority access to and from the venue, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy!

Our Opening Ceremony buses have received a huge number of registrations and these have now been closed off - please ensure that if you have registered for these buses, that you arrive at Blake Park or Gordon Spratt Reserve at least 15 minutes prior to your departure time.

FLAG BEARER CEREMONY

This year, we are super excited to be introducing our Flag Bearer Ceremony into the programme. Being an Olympic year we thought there was no better chance for schools to show off their artistic flare and really get involved in the Opening Ceremonies!

We are giving schools attending the Opening Ceremonies the opportunity to select 1-2 flag bearer(s) and make a flag for them to represent your school at the ceremony. If your school is attending both ceremonies, you may have representatives at both!

Schools may choose 1-2 flag bearers for each Opening Ceremony.
Flags should be no larger than 120cm x 60cm. These can be on a pole or draped around your flag bearer(s).
All flag bearers need to already have a pre-purchased seat for the Opening Ceremony.
The student(s), with their school's flag and a nominated adult must check in at Mercury Baypark 30 minutes prior to the Opening Ceremony (there will be a sign in desk at the entry).
Flags are optional and students may just wish to walk in their school uniform/colours.