NIAS has sent 100 athletes and coaches to the Academy Games at the Hunter Academy of Sport in Newcastle.
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NIAS will compete seven of the eight sports on offer: girls AFL, basketball, golf, hockey, netball, tennis and triathlon.
The Academy Games is a peak event for the athletes involved in regional academy of sport programs.
The Games started with an opening ceremony on the Friday night, immediately followed by basketball clashes.
The rest of the sports will be staged on Saturday and Sunday, with the athletes returning on Sunday afternoon.
It's really about these athletes now having an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best [athletes] around the state.
- James Cooper
NIAS chief executive James Cooper said the Games was the feature program component for a "host of our squad".
"It's really about these athletes now having an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best [athletes] around the state," he said.
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"There will be 11 different academy of sports who will be joining us in Newcastle for the weekend.
"Obviously we like to compete well - expect some decent results. But it's really an opportunity for athletes to gauge where they're at."