Scotland has won the World Schools Debating Championships for an impressive fifth time. The Scotland squad was selected from four different schools and sucessfully overcame New Zealand, Pakistan, England, and Qatar to meet Bulgaria in the final. Their grand final match took place in Belgrade and concluded with an impressive scoreline of 7-2, earning them a place in the tournament’s history books. Scotland now shares the position of second most successful team in the competitions’s history alongside England, trailing nine-time champions, Australia.
The team consists of talented individuals; Logan Moss from Dollar Academy, Miya Turner from Portobello High School, Lena Zielinksa from Broxburn Academy, and Sophie Hannigan and Callum Hendry from St Columba’s in Kilmacolm. Scotland’s success is nothing new – they previously won the competition in 1990, 1999, 2007, and 2012. However, this latest victory will certainly cement their status amongst the tournament’s most successful nations.
The grand final’s topic of debate was “This house regrets the glorification of champions”. The competitors secured Scotland’s victory with compelling arguments that left their Bulgarian opposition trailing behind. Callum Hendry, who trained for five hours a week alongside his school work, was elated to be part of the world champion squad. In an interview with BBC Scotland News, he revealed his disbelief in the accomplishment, saying: “It has still not really set in”.
Sophie Hannigan conveyed the team’s experience to BBC Scotland News, revealing the hurdles they faced during the tournament’s eight rounds before reaching the knockout stages. Despite the “ups and downs”, the team continued to excel, growing stronger as the competition progressed and providing a commanding performance during the semi-finals and final. Even Logan Moss joked during reflection on their debate, saying “We were saying that champions shouldn’t be glorified, which is slightly ironic given we are doing a BBC interview with a trophy next to us.”
Not only did the Scottish team impress their opponents, but they also received praise from several politicians and public figures, including Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross. Swinney applauded the pupils, stating his “warmest congratulations”, while Ross called the victory an “outstanding result”. The team’s hard work and dedication ultimately contributed to their success, adding yet another win to Scotland’s impressive debating record
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
