After two years of interruption by Covid-19, the Zespri AIMS Games return to the Bay has been marked as a huge success.

More than 350 schools across 23 sports competed in the games this year, bringing a whopping 25,000 athletes and supporters to the Bay last week, taking place from Saturday September 3, to Friday, September 9.

Zespri AIMS Games tournament director Kelly Schischka says the feedback organisers have recieved has been "phenomenal".

"They had kids, parents and officials coming up to them all week, telling them how amazing the tournament has been and how much they've enjoyed it.

"As tournament director, that's music to my ears. The competitors have been awesome and I'm so stoked they got the chance to be here and I'm so proud of what our team has been able to deliver, still in the midst of a global pandemic.

"It bodes really well for the future."

Basketball. 2022 AIMS day two at Trustpower Arena in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Monday, 5 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Highlights and stories poured in from athletes' stories across the region, such as visually impaired 11-year-old Zach Graham bowling his way to success at his very first games, competing in indoor bowls as part of a team of seven players from Highlands School in New Plymouth.

Former Black Caps all-rounder Matthew Hart was kept busy in his role as team manager for the St Peter's School (Cambridge) boys side in the indoor cricket tournament, with his 11-year-old son Josh in the side.

In five aside girls premiership basketball, Mount Maunganui Intermediate took first place.

The boys cup football had great local talent too, with Otumoetai Intermediate taking first place.

Football on day four of the 2022 AIMS Games at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa, New Zealand on Wednesday, 7 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Otumoetai Intermediate also took third place in the seven aside boys and girls hockey cup finals.

In the seven aside mixed hockey, Mount Maunganui Intermediate took third place.

Indoor cricket, the Zespri AIMS Games newest sport, gave a platform for Tauranga athletes to shine too, as Tauranga Intermediate took third place in the boys category.

In the rugby sevens girls category, the Bay shone bright, with the finals placings being Rotorua Intermediate in first place, Tauranga Intermediate in second place, Whakatane Intermediate in third, and Te Puke Intermediate in fourth.

In the rugby sevens boys category, Tauranga Intermediate placed third.

In the water polo open, Mount Maunganui intermediate placed second.

Archie Beale, left, Quin Cramond, Oliver Williams, Harrison Banks and Daniel Bell from Mount Maunganui Intermediate School. Photo: Katie Cox.

The highlights were not limited to action on the field, as teams of athletes gathered at Mount Maunganui and collected a total of 35.9kg of waste across Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui main beach, Moturiki and Hopukiore.

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 received 10,842 entries.

- Additional reporting by Dan Sheridan/Stuff.co.nz

More pictures of the action:

Basketball. 2022 AIMS day two at Trustpower Arena in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Monday, 5 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Football on day four of the 2022 AIMS Games at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa, New Zealand on Wednesday, 7 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Futsal. 2022 AIMS day two at Trustpower Arena in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Monday, 5 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Football on day four of the 2022 AIMS Games at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa, New Zealand on Wednesday, 7 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Mountainbiking on day five of the 2022 AIMS Games at Summerhill Mountainbike Park in Papamoa, New Zealand on Thursday, 8 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Taipa Area School is the northern-most school at the Zespri AIMS Games, with the school's netball team featuring in action today. Photo by Michael Bradley/MBPhoto.

2022 AIMS games - Swimming at Baywave in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Sunday, 4 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.

Yachting on day three of the 2022 AIMS at Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club in Tauranga, New Zealand on Tuesday, 6 September 2022. Photo: Dave Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz.