The local media in Qatar underwent rigorous training for 3 days from 9th – 14th January 2010 at the Diplomatic Club, organized by QatarDebate.  This media workshop was led by the eminent personality - Dr. Mahmoud Tarabay, Assistant Professor of Journalism and a media consultant from Beirut.

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The 2nd Qatar Universities Debate League (QUDL), organized by QatarDebate was held on Saturday, 16th January 2010 at the Academic Bridge Program, Education City. The team from Carnegie Mellon University emerged first place at the tournament and the second position went to the Weil Cornell Medical College team. 13 teams from 7 different universities (Academic Bridge Program, Carnegie Mellon, College of North Atlantic, Northwestern, Georgetown, Stendan and Weil Cornell) debated with high spirits and fierce competition.

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It was a jubilant and triumphant marking of the end of 2009 and the dawn of 2010, with Team Qatar bringing home trophies for double victories. Team Qatar won against the Team Oman for both the Arabic Debate and the English Debate, held on 30th October 2009, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, as part of the Qatar Debate Academy II.

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QatarDebate brings forth to you the QATARDEBATE ACADEMY II which is being held from the 24th December, 2009 – 1st January, 2010 at the Sultanate of Oman. QatarDebate Academy II has been organized, in order to foster and spread debating skills in the neighbouring Gulf countries. The idea is to extend the outreach program and to recognize, appreciate and develop an equally enthusiastic and dedicated team of debaters – the National Debate Team of Oman. By bringing two vibrant cultures, rich in heritage and knowledge, QatarDebate envisions this Academy as a perfect forum for intellectual and cultural exchange.  Also, being the first country in the Middle East to host the most prestigious international debating competition – World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) in February, 2010; is a great honor.  This program is a way for Team Oman to receive extra training along with Team Qatar before WSDC 2010. As part of the QatarDebate Academy II, the Arabic Debate program will also be launched.

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The 2nd QSDL (Qatar Schools Debate League) witnessed an exciting day on 12 December 2009, hosted by the Doha College. Not only were they the host, but also the winning team- Doha College SNB bagged the first position for the Best Team, followed by Qatar Academy who won the second position and the third position went to Doha College FDS.

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Preparations for WSDC 2010 are coming along very well.  To read more, download the second WSDC newsletter.

International Debate Experts: Qatar is duly qualified to host the World Schools Debating Championships

QatarDebate, Qatar – Doha, November 7, 2009: Chile won the QatarDebate's Mini-World Schools Debating Championships that took place in Doha from October 31st to Nov. 5th, 2009, while New Zealand came in second place, the United States in third, and China in fourth place after in-depth debates on current issues with 14 teams from countries around the world.

Watch the video of the final

On the other hand, World debate experts have commended Qatar's great ability to host the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) February 2010; the WSDC which will include 1000 individual representing 50 countries from around the world.

20 students from QatarDebate attended a film screening titled AFGHAN STAR, organized by the Doha Tribacca Film Festival at the W Hotel on Thursday, the 15th of October, 2009. Following the screening, the students also emerged into a live and engaging discussion about the film; which will be made into a documentary by the Doha Tribacca Film Festival Team.

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QSDL (Qatar Schools Debate League) had an exciting tournament on 17 October 2009 hosted by the Doha Independent Secondary School for Boys.  30 teams from 14 secondary schools debated five topics.  The Doha Independent Secondary School for Boys, Al-Wakra Independent Secondary School for Boys, Park House, Debakey High School, Birla Public School, The Cambridge School, Qatar International School, DPS MIS, Amna Bint Wahab Independent Secondary School for Girls, Omar Bin Al-Khattab Independent Secondary School for Boys, Al Khor International School, AbuBaker Al-Saadiq Independent Secondary School for Boys, Doha Collge, and Raba’a Al-Adawlya Independent Secondary School for Girls attended.

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QatarDebate is thrilled to welcome Julia Featherston, Chris Croke, Beth James, Jessica Prince, and Najwan Berekdar to Qatar.  These five coaches are running debate workshops in local schools during the day and drop-in sessions in the evening.  So far, over 600 students attended workshops with these debate experts.  Additionally, Qatar’s National Debate Team works with them to hone their debate skills.  The workshops in Public Speaking, Argumentation, Stage Fright, and Research are a big hit around town.