Qatar Proves Ability to Host WSDC 2010

From http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=November2009&file=Local_News2009110954016.xml

Qatar to host major debate championship
Web posted at: 11/9/2009 6:17:46
Source ::: THE PENINSULA/ by Huda N V

Participants at the Mini-World Schools Debating Championship.

By Huda NV

DOHA: With the grand success of the Mini-World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC), that concluded here recently, Qatar is set to host a major WSDC with 50 countries battling for the championship, early next year. Debate experts internationally have commended on Qatar's great ability to host the WSDC next February, according to the orgnisers.

Mini-WSDC, organised by Qatar Debates Centre Member of Qatar Foundation, was a "real test" to measure Qatar's organisational capacities to host the World Championship, which will include 1,000 individual representing 50 countries from around the world. Qatar Debates acquired the honor to organise the WSDC last year after a strong competition from a number of world capitals.

Debate experts expect that the World Championship in Doha will be and important turning point in the course of the world debate championships owing to the generous patronage of H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned for the art of debate in Qatar. Experts also stressed that Qatar is aptly qualified to host the global event eagerly awaited by debate lovers in the world, the Qatar Debates officials said.

Mini-WSDC, which concluded recently, witnessed in-depth discussions between 300 debaters from Qatar and the world on issues of importance, such as climate change, bribery in the world of today, and military intervention in Somalia.

Students argued for and against many of the world issues and the debates were able to reach different approaches on contentious issues.

Chile emerged as the winner after a heated debate on bribery against New Zealand. The final match saw various perspectives of how students saw bribery and corruption. Social and cultural differences, gifting, governmental policies were all cross checked during the last round which got the appreciation from debaters.

US and China won the third and fourth positions, respectively. James Penn, Alex Morris (New Zealand), Paulina Valenzuela, Valentina Salvatierra (Chile), Sohpie Boot (New Zealand), Sara Felicity Smiyle (UAE), Nicolas Orr (New Zealand), Sofia Bernier (Chile), Anirudh Sivaram (UAE), and Kai Wang (China) were selected as the top ten speakers.

The winners were honored at a grand ceremony on Thursday amid vast applause, and the winners received prizes and certificates in an event that showcased traditional Qatari and folkloric dances and presentations. Al Bayan and Omar bin Al Khattab Schools hosted the mini-championship..

"Qatar Debate adopts the spreading of the debate culture in a number of brotherly and friendly countries in the aim of serving local communities in preparing the future generation. These countries are: Oman, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Bosnia, Iraq, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, UAE, China, and Palestine," said Dr Hayat Maarafi, Executive Director of Qatar Debate Center. "Students attended the training course organised by Qatar Debate Center to build capacity in debates, and to prepare to participate in the WSDC for the first time. We aspire to become debate pioneers in the world. The schools in Doha have become more capable of organising and preparing for debate competitions thanks to their experience in the Mini-WSDC."