17th World Schools Debating Championships 2005

More than 150 of the best senior high school debaters from 31 nations around the world participate in the 2005 ConocoPhillips World Schools Debating Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This is Calgary's first time hosting the 17th annual event, which runs from February 11- 18 with a total of 140 matches at 40 schools throughout the city and area.

Mission:
To promote an understanding and impact of issues on a global scale
To achieve excellence in debating
To encourage debating throughout the world
To promote international understanding
To promote free speech
To promote the importance of communication within the Calgary School System and the Calgary Community

Grand Final: Result
Australia beat England (5-2), motion: "This House believes that the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council should not have veto power."

wsdc 2005: official website

wsdc 2005: Blog and Results

German Team:

Debaters:
Christine Blume, Taus-Gymnasium Backnang
Nico Bodenschatz, Max-Born-Gymnasium Backnang
Anastasia Gazou, Salier-Gymnasium Waiblingen
Daniel Grün, Lessing-Gymnasium Winnenden
Marie Schreier, Max-Born-Gymnasium Backnang

Current European champions at World Championships in Calgary

From 11th - 19th February 2005, Calgary in Canada was the scene of the 17th World Schools Debating Championships, at which more than 150 debaters from 31 nations from all over the world competed for the title of this year's champion in schools debating, using about 40 schools in the town and the vicinity as venues. One of the unforgettable experiences was a genuine pow-wow of the Blackfoot First Nation with buffalo burgers and war dances.

Among the participants was the German national team, consisting this year exclusively of pupils from the Rems-Murr-Kreis: the five best German debaters are Christine Blume, Nico Bodenschatz and Marie Schreier from Backnang, Daniel Grün from Winnenden and Anastasia Gazou from Waiblingen.

The final was between Australia and England, with Australia as the winner; however, true to the Olympic motto, the German national team can be proud of its achievement against the best of the international competition. Our team had a really stiff task in the preliminary rounds, as our opponents were all native speakers of English. But even if we did not succeed in being placed, what we did achieve is worth more than gold and will certainly stand our five young debaters in good stead when they start their search for a career; faith can move mountains, or, as Daniel Grün, our representative of the LGW in Calgary, put it, "As long as you believe you can make it, you always have a chance."

In fact the Rems-Murr debaters managed to steal quite a few points for style and content from the native speakers, and even won one or two debates outright, for example against the English-speaking Bermudans.
"These debate participants are truly among the brightest students within their nation," says Ron Lee, Convener of the Worlds 2005; and Henry Sykes, President of the main sponsor ConocoPhillips Canada, adds, "Sponsoring this world class event is one of the many ways we support youth and education in our local and world communities."

The German team was selected from among the best debaters last autumn. The "Europeans" in October 2004 were their first challenge, and they rose to it magnificently, winning not only the championship itself, but also plaudits as a team and for the "sport" of debating.
Debating was introduced to the Rems-Murr-Kreis by Angelika Hoeness, who had come to the Lessing-Gymnasium to teach English. Her enthusiasm for debating infected her pupils, and the number of fans and active participants is now constantly growing. But in order to reach the level of the Germanm national team, you need stamina, enthusiasm, willingness and a modicum of talent. The capacity to argue, to understand and to react comes of itself as one debates, by learning-by-doing. It promotes qualities such as confidence and eloquence, which stay with one for life.

Today, when education is gaining in value and demanded everywhere, it is good to see that young people are in the vanguard.
But our work is expensive, and these expenses must be met.: participation fees, costs for putting on competitions, travel expenses… Without the freely given help of parents and other volunteers, many things would not be possible, including the sending of representatives of Germany, the Rems-.Murr-Kreis and one of our Winnenden schools to this international event in Calgary, where 31 countries - including the USA and Indonesia besides many European states .- sent their talented debaters to compete against each other. Such things, surely, deserve official support.

The DSG is still looking for sponsors to fill its coffers for future competitions and other activities.
Like to find out more? Then just watch a debate at one of the schools.

Marie-Kristin Döbler.