West Coast Region will be divided into two zones namely West Coast and West Coast One.
Schools in the Kanifing Muncipality will compete with schools in Banjul.
Kaur and Bansang will be divided into North and South.
Upper River Region and North Bank Region will co-host this year's national inter-schools athletic competition.
The annual competition will be held in Farafenni.
The championship will feature a medal system, moving away from the traditional point system to align with international standards.
A total of 16 schools will advance to the finals, providing more opportunities for participation.
GSSSA emphasised fair play and integrity, with strict age verification processes to prevent manipulation.
The regional heats will take place in Basse and Bansang, with the national championship expected to showcase talented young athletes.
Speaking at a press conference held at The Gambia Teachers Cooperative Credit Union building in Kanifing on Wednesday, Secretary General of GSSSA, Lamin A. Jammeh, stated that 250 schools are expected to participate in this year’s national inter-schools athletics competition.
“We are expecting 250 schools according to statistics," Jammeh said.
Jammeh stated that each school is expected to fill in 25 and 30 athletes, adding that 7000 athletes are set to participate in the heats.
Chairman of Competitions under the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Abdou Karim Sey, hailed the initiative.
Sey underscored the significance of the athletics competition, adding that the competition gives many young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents during the championship.
He revealed that after last year’s heats, 26 athletes were identified to represent The Gambia at the Africa school Games in Algeria.
Sey further revealed that eighteen (18) athletes secured medals for The Gambia during Africa school Games in Algeria.
He called on the associations to identify raw talents from the 2026 heats, adding that the raw talents would be nurtured and prepared to represent The Gambia at the 2027 Africa School to be hosted in Nigeria.
“We would identify talents starting from the regional athletics heats going to the finals, talents scout from the heats would represent The Gambia in the Africa School Games.
We would nurture and prepare them before the 2027 Africa School Games in Nigeria," Sey said.
Meanwhile, Qcell is set to bankroll the 2026 national inter-schools athletics competition.
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