Author: Trevor Sather

Former debater, judge, coach, Convenor, CA, Exec member, Director.

Australia win their ninth World Schools Debating Championships

There could, in the end, be only one winner in the tournament’s 25th year:  Australia, 14 times in the Grand Final and now nine times the champions.  For many years they exerted a stranglehold on the trophy;  it seems almost strange that this is their first victory in seven years.  Congratulations to Bo Seo (also best speaker of the tournament), Zoe Brown, Nick Salmon, James Stratton and Tyrone Connell for their victory – unanimous from the nine judges – over Swaziland. The motion was “This House believes that Turkey is better off outside the EU”.    If you’d like to skim the arguments made in the final, please see the Twitter feed of India coach Sayeqa Islam.

Swaziland still go home with a medal most other participating countries have never won and a fairy-tale story:  a Grand Final appearance in only their second year at the competition, after winning Best New Team last year.  Congratulations to Fanele Mashwama, Sandile Mndzebele, Lindelani Mabuza, Oliver Havelock Mills and Wabantu Hlophe on their amazing achievement.

Congratulations also to Peru, Best ESL Team, and Indonesia, Best EFL Team.

And well done to all of you who participated in the 25th WSDC in Antalya, Turkey, and those who made it happen!

Follow: Team Australia on Twitter / Team Swaziland on Twitter / WSDC on Twitter

 

WSDC 2013: octo-final results

The results of the octo-finals, on the motion “THW cut welfare benefits to compulsive gamblers”, were as follows:

  • Canada bt New Zealand 4-1
  • Swaziland bt Greece 5-0
  • Singapore bt Slovenia 5-0
  • South Africa bt UAE 3-2
  • Australia bt Netherlands 4-1
  • England bt Hong Kong 5-0
  • Mexico bt India 4-1
  • Ireland bt Peru 4-1

The quarter-finals will therefore be:  Canada v Ireland, Swaziland v Mexico, Singapore v England and Australia v South Africa.  Good luck to all of you!

WSDC 2013: the break

The break has been announced in Antalya and you can now download the official team standings after all preliminary rounds.  The top 16 teams will go on to the knock-out octo-finals, as follows:

  • New Zealand v Canada
  • Swaziland v Greece
  • Singapore v Slovenia
  • South Africa v UAE
  • Australia v Netherlands
  • England v Hong Kong
  • Mexico v India
  • Peru v Ireland

Congratulations to all those teams and to all who have taken part in the debates so far; and commiserations to those who visas or illness kept from competing in all their debates.

WSDC 2013: Results of Rounds 1 & 2

All the results from WSDC 2013 in Turkey will be published on the WSDC website, just as soon as we receive them here at WSDC HQ.

Rounds 1 & 2 are available for download now.  Assuming all results are correct, Ireland is the only team not to drop a judge so far.  Nigeria has forfeited their first two debates after visa difficulties kept them from flying to Turkey;  they hope to arrive tonight.

Singapore bid document for WSDC 2015

Singapore has released the bid document for its bid to host the 2015 World Schools Debating Championships.

Downloads

Anyone who wishes to contact Singapore’s bid committee can do so by e-mailing [email protected]. Further information about Singapore’s bid can also be found at the Singapore 2015 WSDC bid Facebook page.

Singapore’s bid committee will be making a presentation to the WSDC Tournament Committee at its upcoming meeting in Antalya on 3rd February.

Singapore bids to host WSDC 2015

Singapore is bidding to host the 2015 World Schools Debating Championships.

The Singapore bid committee has produced a bid video which can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKPBTOCYWpw&feature=youtu.be

The bid committee has also created a Facebook page which can be found at: www.facebook.com/SingaporeBidWSDC2015

The bid will be presented to the Tournament Committee during this year’s championship in Antalya. If you have any questions about the bid, you can contact the Singapore bid committee at [email protected]