The annual Boys and Girls' Athletic Championships, popularly known as Champs, is less than a week away and the usual off-track rivalry among schools associated with the event has the police on high alert.

Over the years, the event has been marred by violence, especially among student groups at the major hang-out spots and bus parks. This year's championship begins on Wednesday.

So far, the only reported incident associated with this year's rivalry is an altercation at the Half-Way tree Transport Centre on January 18 when two Calabar students were stabbed, allegedly during confrontation with students from Jamaica College (JC).

Since then, the police have been strategic in their approach, says head of St Andrew Central police, Senior Superintendent Fitz Bailey. He said police are making regular moto and foot patrols at hang-out spots and other places to prevent any further incidents. So far, this initiative seems to have been working.

But some schools have also taken the initiative to prevent the customary altercations. "We have won the prize for the best behaving school last year and we intend on retaining that. Our student leaders have made contact with the student leaders from other schools to foster a smooth transition throughout the competitions," JC principal Ruel Reid said.

He said JC has been integrating with other schools to foster unity and keep all competition on the track. "Calabar came to JC, we have been to Calabar previously in order to maintain healthy competition and a friendly environment. We are encouraging the students to keep all competition on the track and not at the bus parks and hang-out zones," he added.

Kingston College's head boy, Joel Nomdarkham, said an ongoing peace initiative - Peace for Champs Exposition - concludes today at the transport centre

"This is the final stage that will conclude the initiative before going into the championship. There will be a handshake among the head students of participating schools as well as the signing of the peace declaration. There will also be singing as well as other activities. Some schools will set up booths and share interesting stuffs," he revealed.