SAINT GEORGE, CITY OF DEBATE V

SAINT GEORGE, CITY OF DEBATE V

The Saint George Debate Club thanks the over 300 participants of the fith edition of Saint George, City of Debate tournament that made the biggest debate tournament ever in Romania possible.

Achievements were made starting with the team of judges (69 students or profesors, most of which were regional, national or international champions), led by our Saint George champion, Radu Cotarcea, and continuing with the 234 debaters, divided in 78 teams from Botoşani, Bucureşti, Buhuşi, Chişinău, Cluj-Napoca, Constanţa, Horezu, Hunedoara, Iaşi, Ploieşti, Sighetu Marmaţiei, Timişoara, Târgu Ocna, Turda.

Three preliminary rounds were held in 38 classrooms at the „Mihai Viteazul” National High-school, and on Saturday night octo-finals were held after which only 8 teams prepared for the quater-finals on Sunday.

The quater and octo-finals enjoyed a large public and the final gathered over 400 viewers in the Saint George theatre. In front of an enthusiastic public, the jury (consisting of 7 highly apreciated judges) announced the Banat team from Debate Club Chrome, lead by Radu Stoita, winners of the championship. The winning debate team formed by 3 girls (Adelina Voiculescu, Fometescu Adina, Cercega Lidia) managed to win the golden medals, first-place diplomas, awards, flowers, a trophy (made by the Saint George artist Ramon Grosos) alog with the Saint George, City of Debate trophy that will remain in Banat this year, until the next edition of the tournament. On second place, but obviously the public favourites, came the three young debaters from Saint George, Andreea Cucu, Simina Gheorghincă and Ioan Ganea jr., a solid team with a great future ahead, that we hope with our whole hearts will continue the debating preformance tradition of the Saint George Debate Club.

The first three speakers of the competition were also from the two cities that battled in the final, first and second place were won by Iulia Vladu and Vlad Icleanu (both from Timisoara, Banat) and comming on third place Simina Gheorghinca (from Saint George).

With the satisfaction that most of the participants felt very good regarding the tournament, considering both the actual competition and other activities that they were able to enjoy (football, paintball, bowling, squash, party), we hope that Saint George has once again fully confirmed its title of  Romanias Debate Capital, and that next year, between 9-11 March 2012 the city will host the Saint George, City of Debate tournament at its sixth edition. 

Final regards go out to the 22 voluntaires without whom everything would have been nearly impossible, also special regards to the board of directors of „Mihai Viteazul” National High-school, „Mihes Kelemen” and Palace of Children, the hosts of the competition, and also to the tabmaster Stefan Strilciuc, and, special thanks for the partners of the event, to all the firms and people that helped us every step of the way, because the only way we will be better is together!

We love Saint George!

(*thanks for translate, Simina Gheorghinca)