ZAGREB, July 20, 2018 - High school students from 67 countries gathered in Zagreb for the World Schools Debating Championship in a battle of minds in critical thinking and speaking, the Croatian Debate Society, which organised the competition in Zagreb, reported on Friday.
A total of 630 students will be competing and the two most successful teams will clash on 26 July in the Europa Cinema in downtown Zagreb.
More than 300 debates will be conducted in the English language during the competition and competitors have to show their knowledge of current topics in politics, economy, sport, education and the like.
Maja Roglić, Marko Kasun, Nika Ćavar, Loren Serdarević i Alma Đafić will represent Croatia in the competition along with their coach and team manager Marija Jarnjak and Ivona Anić. "We have been preparing for the World Schools Debating Championship all year. We know we have done everything to be ready," Anić said.
Croatia's debate teams won the gold medal in Singapore in 2015 and the bronze in Germany in 2016 in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) category.
Education Minister Blaženka Divjak addressed the competitors at the official opening of the event which also included a concert of Croatian folklore dancing and a capella singing.
The competition is being held under the auspices of President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić.
