Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition
Encyclopedia
The Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition is an annual competition involving schools from across Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1993 by Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE
during her time as Chairman of the Belfast Civic Trust. The final of the competition is held every year in the Senate Chamber of Parliament Buildings, Stormont
. It is organised by the Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust
(BBPT), and is sponsored by both the Telegraph Media Group
and the T.E. Utley Memorial Fund. Lord Lexden of Lexden and Strangford OBE has been President of the competition since 1997 and Mrs. Jay-O'Boyle is Chairman. Lord Trimble and Lord Dubs are patrons.
An average of over seventy schools enter the competition each year, with the first round usually beginning in late October. Each team consists of two students, and each round's motion is chosen to reflect a particular civic, social, political or even economic issue of the day. Motions for the Final have included "This House would Tax and Spend", "This House believes that the power of the United States has increased, is increasing and ought to be diminished", "This House believes that Northern Ireland badly needs 'Bog Standard' Comprehensive Schools." In the 2010 Final the motion was, "This House would welcome being part of a European Federal State." In the 2011 final, the motion was, "This House believes that Northern Ireland requires an official opposition because it has reached political maturity."
Guest adjudicators at the final have included Michael Gove
MP, Secretary of State for Education; Viscount Cranborne, now the Marquess of Salisbury and former Leader of the House of Lords; the historian, Andrew Roberts
; Guy Black
, Lord Black of Brentwood, Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group; and the acclaimed journalist and leader writer of The Times
, Rosemary Righter.
(When sorted by years won or lost, the table is sorted by the date of each team's first win)
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
during her time as Chairman of the Belfast Civic Trust. The final of the competition is held every year in the Senate Chamber of Parliament Buildings, Stormont
Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)
The Parliament Buildings, known as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont area of Belfast is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive...
. It is organised by the Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust
Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust
The , founded in 1996, is a cross community Building Preservation Trust with charitable status that exists to rescue those buildings for which no apparent sustainable use can be found....
(BBPT), and is sponsored by both the Telegraph Media Group
Telegraph Media Group
The Telegraph Media Group is the proprietor of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph. It is a subsidiary of Press Holdings. David and Frederick Barclay acquired the group in July 2004, after months of intense bidding and lawsuits, from Hollinger Inc...
and the T.E. Utley Memorial Fund. Lord Lexden of Lexden and Strangford OBE has been President of the competition since 1997 and Mrs. Jay-O'Boyle is Chairman. Lord Trimble and Lord Dubs are patrons.
An average of over seventy schools enter the competition each year, with the first round usually beginning in late October. Each team consists of two students, and each round's motion is chosen to reflect a particular civic, social, political or even economic issue of the day. Motions for the Final have included "This House would Tax and Spend", "This House believes that the power of the United States has increased, is increasing and ought to be diminished", "This House believes that Northern Ireland badly needs 'Bog Standard' Comprehensive Schools." In the 2010 Final the motion was, "This House would welcome being part of a European Federal State." In the 2011 final, the motion was, "This House believes that Northern Ireland requires an official opposition because it has reached political maturity."
Guest adjudicators at the final have included Michael Gove
Michael Gove
Michael Andrew Gove, MP is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also a published author and former journalist.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen...
MP, Secretary of State for Education; Viscount Cranborne, now the Marquess of Salisbury and former Leader of the House of Lords; the historian, Andrew Roberts
Andrew Roberts
Andrew Roberts is an English historian and journalist.-Background:Roberts was born in London, England, the son of Simon from Cobham, Surrey, and Katie Roberts...
; Guy Black
Guy Black
Guy Vaughan Black, Baron Black of Brentwood is Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group and a Conservative member of the House of Lords...
, Lord Black of Brentwood, Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group; and the acclaimed journalist and leader writer of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, Rosemary Righter.
Winners
| Year | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1993/94 | Belfast Royal Academy Belfast Royal Academy The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and... |
St. Malachy's College St. Malachy's College St. Malachy's College is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and one of the oldest in Ireland.The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly, about 50 years after the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
| 1994/95 | Coleraine Academical Institution Coleraine Academical Institution Coleraine Academical Institution , styled locally as Coleraine Inst, is a voluntary grammar school for boys, situated in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.... |
Portadown College Portadown College Portadown College is an academic selective grammar school in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, founded in 1924 and as of 2009, is the number one controlled grammar school in Northern Ireland. The school was established initially in Bann House on the banks of the River Bann, adjacent to... |
| 1995/96 | Belfast Boy's Model School | Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
| 1996/97 | Belfast Royal Academy Belfast Royal Academy The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and... |
Omagh Academy Omagh Academy Omagh Academy is a grammar school in Omagh, County Tyrone, located at 21-23 Dublin Road. The school currently has approximately 700 pupils and over 40 teaching staff. The school is one of the top performing grammar schools in County Tyrone and Northern Ireland with excellent GCSE and 'A'-level... |
| 1997/98 | St Patrick's Girls Academy, Dungannon | Royal Belfast Academical Institution Royal Belfast Academical Institution The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18... |
| 1998/99 | Belfast Royal Academy Belfast Royal Academy The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and... |
Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
| 1999/00 | Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
Cambridge House Grammar School Cambridge House Grammar School Cambridge House Grammar School is a mixed, controlled grammar school in the County Antrim town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.-General:... , Ballymena Ballymena Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census.... |
| 2000/01 | St Patrick's Grammar School Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, is a Roman Catholic boys' voluntary grammar school in the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland. The present-day school was officially opened on Thursday 27 October 1988 by the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, the then Chairman of the Board of Governors, and was the... , Armagh Armagh Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh... |
Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
| 2001/02 | Our Lady and St. Patrick's College Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock Our Lady and Saint Patrick's College is a Roman Catholic diocesan grammar school in Knock, Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Foundation:The school opened on Monday, 4 September 1967 on a site at Gortgrib in the Cherryvalley area of east Belfast with Fr. Joseph Conway as President. A sister college of St... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
| 2002/03 | Our Lady and St. Patrick's College Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock Our Lady and Saint Patrick's College is a Roman Catholic diocesan grammar school in Knock, Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Foundation:The school opened on Monday, 4 September 1967 on a site at Gortgrib in the Cherryvalley area of east Belfast with Fr. Joseph Conway as President. A sister college of St... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
Cambridge House Grammar School Cambridge House Grammar School Cambridge House Grammar School is a mixed, controlled grammar school in the County Antrim town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.-General:... , Ballymena Ballymena Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census.... |
| 2003/04 | Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
Thornhill College Thornhill College Thornhill College is a Roman Catholic girls' grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1886 and moved to Culmore in 1932. It moved into its new building in 2003. It has a student population of approximately 1500 and a staff of 100 teachers. Miss Hamilton... , Derry Derry Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"... |
| 2004/05 | Belfast Royal Academy Belfast Royal Academy The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and... |
Methodist College Belfast Methodist College Belfast Methodist College Belfast , styled locally as Methody, is a voluntary grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland, one of eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and is a member of the Independent Schools Council... |
| 2005/06 | Our Lady and St. Patrick's College Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock Our Lady and Saint Patrick's College is a Roman Catholic diocesan grammar school in Knock, Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Foundation:The school opened on Monday, 4 September 1967 on a site at Gortgrib in the Cherryvalley area of east Belfast with Fr. Joseph Conway as President. A sister college of St... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
Coleraine Academical Institution Coleraine Academical Institution Coleraine Academical Institution , styled locally as Coleraine Inst, is a voluntary grammar school for boys, situated in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.... |
| 2006/07 | Royal Belfast Academical Institution Royal Belfast Academical Institution The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18... |
Thornhill College Thornhill College Thornhill College is a Roman Catholic girls' grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1886 and moved to Culmore in 1932. It moved into its new building in 2003. It has a student population of approximately 1500 and a staff of 100 teachers. Miss Hamilton... , Derry Derry Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"... |
| 2007/08 | St Marys CBGS Belfast St Marys CBGS Belfast St. Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School is a Roman Catholic boys' grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland-History:... |
Antrim Grammar School Antrim Grammar School Antrim Grammar School is the newest grammar school in Northern Ireland. It is situated in County Antrim, within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.- History :... |
| 2008/09 | Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
Our Lady and St. Patrick's College Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock Our Lady and Saint Patrick's College is a Roman Catholic diocesan grammar school in Knock, Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Foundation:The school opened on Monday, 4 September 1967 on a site at Gortgrib in the Cherryvalley area of east Belfast with Fr. Joseph Conway as President. A sister college of St... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
| 2009/10 | Rathmore Grammar School Rathmore Grammar School Rathmore Grammar School, normally referred to simply as "Rathmore", is a Catholic grammar school in Finaghy, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The current principal is Thérese Hamilton who succeeded Sr. Ursula Canavan as principal at the beginning of academic year 2009/10.Rathmore is situated in Kingsway,... |
Royal Belfast Academical Institution Royal Belfast Academical Institution The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18... |
| 2010/11 | Royal Belfast Academical Institution Royal Belfast Academical Institution The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18... |
Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
By School
| Team | Won | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast Royal Academy Belfast Royal Academy The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and... |
4 | 0 | 1993/94, 1996/97, 1998/99, 2004/05 | |
| Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School , is an all-boys, voluntary grammar school situated in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1856 by the Conservative politician and Bangor man, Col The Hon. Robert Ward PC MP who lived at Castle Ward... |
3 | 5 | 1999/00, 2003/04, 2008/09 | 1995/96, 1998/99, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11 |
| Our Lady and St. Patrick's College Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock Our Lady and Saint Patrick's College is a Roman Catholic diocesan grammar school in Knock, Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Foundation:The school opened on Monday, 4 September 1967 on a site at Gortgrib in the Cherryvalley area of east Belfast with Fr. Joseph Conway as President. A sister college of St... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
3 | 1 | 2001/02, 2002/03, 2005/06 | 2008/09 |
| Royal Belfast Academical Institution Royal Belfast Academical Institution The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18... |
2 | 2 | 2006/07, 2010/11 | 1997/98, 2009/10 |
| Coleraine Academical Institution Coleraine Academical Institution Coleraine Academical Institution , styled locally as Coleraine Inst, is a voluntary grammar school for boys, situated in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.... |
1 | 1 | 1994/95 | 2005/06 |
| Rathmore Grammar School Rathmore Grammar School Rathmore Grammar School, normally referred to simply as "Rathmore", is a Catholic grammar school in Finaghy, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The current principal is Thérese Hamilton who succeeded Sr. Ursula Canavan as principal at the beginning of academic year 2009/10.Rathmore is situated in Kingsway,... |
1 | 0 | 2009/10 | |
| St Marys CBGS Belfast St Marys CBGS Belfast St. Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School is a Roman Catholic boys' grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland-History:... |
1 | 0 | 2007/08 | |
| St Patrick's Grammar School Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, is a Roman Catholic boys' voluntary grammar school in the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland. The present-day school was officially opened on Thursday 27 October 1988 by the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, the then Chairman of the Board of Governors, and was the... , Armagh Armagh Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh... |
1 | 0 | 2000/01 | |
| St Patrick's Girls Academy, Dungannon | 1 | 0 | 1997/98 | |
| Belfast Boy's Model School | 1 | 0 | 1995/96 | |
| Thornhill College Thornhill College Thornhill College is a Roman Catholic girls' grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1886 and moved to Culmore in 1932. It moved into its new building in 2003. It has a student population of approximately 1500 and a staff of 100 teachers. Miss Hamilton... , Derry Derry Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"... |
0 | 2 | ||
| 2003/04, 2006/07 | ||||
| Cambridge House Grammar School Cambridge House Grammar School Cambridge House Grammar School is a mixed, controlled grammar school in the County Antrim town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.-General:... , Ballymena Ballymena Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census.... |
0 | 2 | ||
| 1999/00, 2002/03 | ||||
| Antrim Grammar School Antrim Grammar School Antrim Grammar School is the newest grammar school in Northern Ireland. It is situated in County Antrim, within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.- History :... |
0 | 1 | ||
| 2007/08 | ||||
| Methodist College Belfast Methodist College Belfast Methodist College Belfast , styled locally as Methody, is a voluntary grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland, one of eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and is a member of the Independent Schools Council... |
0 | 1 | ||
| 2004/05 | ||||
| Omagh Academy Omagh Academy Omagh Academy is a grammar school in Omagh, County Tyrone, located at 21-23 Dublin Road. The school currently has approximately 700 pupils and over 40 teaching staff. The school is one of the top performing grammar schools in County Tyrone and Northern Ireland with excellent GCSE and 'A'-level... |
0 | 1 | ||
| 1996/97 | ||||
| Portadown College Portadown College Portadown College is an academic selective grammar school in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, founded in 1924 and as of 2009, is the number one controlled grammar school in Northern Ireland. The school was established initially in Bann House on the banks of the River Bann, adjacent to... |
0 | 1 | ||
| 1994/95 | ||||
| St. Malachy's College St. Malachy's College St. Malachy's College is the oldest Roman Catholic grammar school in the province of Ulster, and one of the oldest in Ireland.The college was founded in 1833 by Bishop William Crolly, about 50 years after the repeal of the penal laws, which had outlawed, among other things, the celebration of the... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
0 | 1 | ||
| 1993/94 |
(When sorted by years won or lost, the table is sorted by the date of each team's first win)
See also
- International university debating
- World Universities Debating ChampionshipWorld Universities Debating ChampionshipThe World Universities Debating Championship is the world's largest debating tournament, and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. It is a parliamentary debating event, held using the British Parliamentary Debate format. Each year, the event is hosted by a university...
- Australasian Intervarsity Debating ChampionshipsAustralasian Intervarsity Debating ChampionshipsThe Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships is an annual debating tournament for teams from universities in the Australasian region. It is one of the world's largest debating tournaments, second only in size to the World Universities Debating Championship , and one of the largest annual...
- American Parliamentary Debate Association
- Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate DebateCanadian University Society for Intercollegiate DebateThe Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate is the national organization which governs all competitive university debating and public speaking in Canada. It sanctions several official annual tournaments and represents Canadian debating domestically and abroad...
- North American Debating ChampionshipNorth American Debating ChampionshipThe North American Debating Championship is the official university debating championship of North America, sanctioned by the national university debating associations in the United States and Canada, the American Parliamentary Debate Association and the Canadian University Society for...
- World Universities Debating Championship
- International high school debating
- World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship
- World Schools Debating ChampionshipsWorld Schools Debating ChampionshipsThe World Schools Debating Championships is an annual English-language debating tournament for high school-level teams representing different countries.In recent years, the championships have involved teams from over 40 nations each year.-History:...