*The Debatewise Blog
Official Press Release for the start of the WODC Preliminary Round
“And nation shall debate unto nation.”
Debatewise is pleased to announce that the preliminary round of the inaugural World Online Debating Championships (WODC) is currently taking place. This is to decide which debating teams from the United States of America, Israel and China will go on to represent their country in the Championships themselves which begin on August the 10th . They and other teams will compete in a straight knockout tournament lasting just over a month in a format that brings together the length of test cricket with the cut and thrust of politics of Westminster. This is a joint initiative with the International Debate Education Association and the World Universities Debating Council some of who’s members are acting as Adjudicators with Neill Harvey Smith being the Chief Adjudicator.
The championships are taking place in a time of great international economic, political and social turmoil and domestic discontent across many countries including our own. We believe strongly that never before has the need for debate by individuals of whatever race, age, gender, creed, physical or neurological condition from the quiet or noisy corners of the globe has never been greater than now ,whether on issues related to one place or many places in the world. We also believe that the internet can play a crucial part in facilitating and strengthening discussion as part of a stronger global discourse. The recent events in Iran are a shining example of the webs power to bring important issues to the attention of an international audience. The World Online Debating Championships can play a part in this by bringing countries together to thrash out issues on an array of era defining subjects, ranging from should assisted suicide be illegal to should prisoners be used for medical experiments without their consent.
Currently we have strong representation from across Asia with teams hailing from Bangladesh to the Republic of Korea, a variety of the ex Soviet countries in Eastern Europe as well as teams from the major debating powers Australia the USA and the UK. We also hope to have some teams representing regions as well.
The winners of the World Online Debating Championships will be revealed on September the 21st and will receive a suitable reward for their commitment, intelligence and passion over the past month. But whoever wins or loses we hope that bringing people together from different countries in the spirit of competition as well as intellectual exchange will strengthen the global discourse and that people will come away from it, be it competitors or spectators determined to talk freely and frankly beyond the boundaries of mere nation states. It is time for nation to debate unto nation.
Points of Information for Journalists
Debatewise (www.debatewise.com) is an not for profit online debating site where people can register for free to create and strengthen new contents bringing together the strongest arguments and counter arguments on virtually anything. The WODC is one of a number of initiatives Debatewise run including Revisewise which is a tool that can be used for revision by students. It was founded in 2008 by David Crane. It is currently based out of Bash Studios Scrutton Street in London and it’s patrons include Michael Crick, Gabby Logan and Chris Heaton Harris.
Contact details Tel: 44 20 3393 7223 E-mail info@debatewise.com or postal address Debatewise CIC
Scrutton Street
London
EC2A 4PJ
UK
The International Debate Education Association: The International Debate Education Association (www.idea.com) was created in 1999 to co-ordinate pilot member programmes. “IDEA acts as an independent membership organization of national debate clubs, associations, programs, and individuals who share a common purpose: to promote mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally.”
Contact details: For any inquiries about IDEA please contact it’s Salem office
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301
USA
Telephone: (503) 370-6244
Fax: (503) 370-6171
www.debatewise.com/wodc