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 In February 2009, over 300 high school students aged 16-18, representing more than 40 countries from every continent will arrive in Athens for ten days of debate competition. The participating students will have trained and competed for months in advance to secure their place on their respective national teams.
The World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) (www.schoolsdebate.com) ) is a truly global competition for high school debaters. The first World Schools Debating Championships were held in Australia in 1988. The event attracted participants from Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the United States. In 1990 the second championship was held in Canada, ever since then it has been an annual event, hosted each year in a different country, usually by a national debating body. Past patrons of the Championships include Tony Blair and Nelson Mandela.
 Participating teams are made up of the nation’s top five debaters, often selected after a long series of local, regional, and national debate events. The World Schools Debating Championships celebrates and exemplifies the achievements of youth in the global community who strive to make the world a better place through open articulate communication and shared experiences.
All debates take place in English. Each country can submit a squad of 3-5 students who are under the age of 19 and in full time education in that country, to debate social, moral and political issues.
| To achieve excellence in debating |
| To encourage debating throughout the world |
| To promote international understanding |
| To promote free speech |
In order to further these aims, all participating nations agree that:
| The team of any participating nation may be required to debate any issue |
| The team of any participating nation may be required to debate against the
team of any other participating nation |
| The team of any participating nation is entitled to take part in the Championships
on the same basis as any other participating nation's team |
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