By Momodou S Gagigo
Schools in Region 6 (Upper River Region) are planning to boycott the upcoming 2026 National Inter-Schools Athletics Championships over unresolved welfare and feeding concerns, officials of the Gambia Senior Secondary Schools Sports Association have confirmed.
The boycott threat stems from a breakdown in communication between the regional coordinator and the regional executive committee, particularly regarding feeding arrangements for participating athletes and teams.
Association President Ismaila Ceesay downplayed the potential impact, stating that other schools are ready to step in. “If they boycott, we have a lot of schools coming. Although it will be too late to make some adjustments, we still have the required number of schools expected on track, so it will not affect us much,” he said.
Chairman Abdou Karim Sey explained that no feeding will be provided during the championships due to severe financial constraints. He warned that offering meals could strain the Association’s limited budget.
Sey disclosed that D800,000 has been allocated for the finals, which includes prize money. Sey also clarified that no schools have been suspended or fined for this year’s competition.
A total of 145 schools have qualified to participate in the inter-schools football and athletics events.
The championships are scheduled to take place from Thursday, April 23, to Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Bottrop Senior Secondary School, with approximately 4,000 athletes expected to compete.
Despite the boycott threat from Region 6, the Association remains confident that the event will proceed successfully with sufficient participation from other regions.
