Held annually, the 'World Schools Debating Championships' represents the highest level of debating competition at high/secondary-school level. The competition involves around 35 countries each year, each of which takes part in 9 preliminary rounds, with the top 16 teams after these rounds breaking to the Octo-Finals or the competition. There is also an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) 'break' at the competition.

Team Qatar first entered WSDC in 2008, setting a new world record as the most successful new entrant country ever in the process. In 2008 Team Qatar won 4 of their debates, finishing 19th overall out of over 40 teams attending the competition. In 2009 Team Qatar again won 4 of their debates, finishing 20th overall out of over 40 teams attending the competition.

 

WSDC 2009- Athens, Greece

The Qatar National Schools’ Debating Team returned from their 2nd year competing World Schools’ Debating Championships, once again as one of the strongest emerging debating nations.

Team Qatar were ranked 20th out of over 40 teams competing, winning 4 of their preliminary round debates, including debates against Turkey, Sweden and Indonesia, and retained their ‘B’ status at the competition, the highest of any recent entrant nations.

Team Qatar was represented by Sara Al-Shamlan (Qatari), Dana Al-Ansari (Qatari), Talal Burshaid (Qatari), Fatima Hijran (Iraqi), Tina Niaki (Iranian), and Vartan Shadarevian (Syrian).

At a press conference held on 3rd March in Doha, the team discussed how proud they were to represent Qatar at the competition., and how much they enjoyed meeting the other national teams from different regions, religions and mindsets. They encouraged all Qataris to take part in their schools’ debate clubs so that they too can have a chance to be part of the national team.

During the competition, Team Qatar were hosted at the Qatari Embassy in Athens by The Ambassador of Qatar in Athens, H.E. Hamad Abdullah Al-Misnad, on Wednesday 18th February.

 

WSDC 2008 - Washington DC, USA

In 2008 Qatar sent a national team to the World Schools' Debating Championships (WSDC) for the first time. WSDC 2008 was held in Washington DC from 5th - 15th September 2008, and more information about the competition can be found at its website, http://web.mac.com/wsdc2008/iWeb/DC/Welcome.html

The members of the 2008 National Schools Debating Team for Qatar, who competed at the World Schools Debating Championships in Washington DC in September 2008, were:

Talal Burshaid from Qatar Leadership Academy
Vartan Shadarevian from Doha College
Tina Niaki from Doha College
Fatima Hijran from Al-Bayan Independent School
Ayesha Batley from Doha College