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Published on December 30, 2007

More than 1,200 participants from 35 countries gathered on Friday for the start of the 28th World Universities Debating Championship at Assumption University's Suvarnabhumi Campus on Bang Na-Trat Road km26.

Tournament director Tarique Shakil says this

year's rendition is the largest World Universities Debating Championship ever held, making it also the biggest academic event. Altogether 400 teams from 185 univer-sities are competing, with the United States bringing the most teams, from 32 universities.

Debating is becoming diverse as students share opinions on the most important issues of the world.

Professor Ian Lising, chairman of the World Debate Council from the US, says it is high time for youngsters to voice their minds.

"More and more societies have become complacent, they feel that people who are supposed to lead the country are already set, but the youth have to realise that being part of the leadership of the future is really learning how to express themselves, and not parroting what past generations have said."

Thepparith Senamngern, convenor of the World Debate, planned for almost five years to see this tournament come to life in the hope that Thais will take the opportunity to further discuss major global issues. He believes Thai students have plenty of potential, but most cannot communicate or present their ideas effectively.

"For Thais it's always kreng jai, mai pen rai, let's chill out a bit - but we as the world have to move fast," he said.

Lising and Thepparith say the stars of the World Debate often go on to become prime ministers and leaders of their countries.

University students as young as 18 argued on the latest current events, including the death of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the Iraq War and global warming, although the topics were only revealed minutes before the debates began.

Each debater gets just seven minutes to present his or her case. Topics can be serious, but the debaters hardly get emotional, using mostly logic and reasoning in their speeches.

But some of the best leaders are able to persuade people through charisma, says Lising.

"Real debating isn't just pathos, egos and logos. It's being able to understand that we are emotional creatures, we are not robots. There are some people who are persuasive because they appeal to our emotions. But those people are also dangerous because they don't use their heads," he said.

He believes the combination of logic and emotion is therefore an interesting drama in itself and something Thailand should look forward to doing more in the future.

The finals of 28th World Universities Debating Championship will be held at the Ambassador City Jomtien resort in Pattaya on Wednesday.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

The Nation