ZAGREB, July 29, 2018 – Croatian high school students have won the bronze medal at the World Schools Debate Championships, which took place in Zagreb from 17 to 29 July, while China is the overall winner, the Croatian Debate Society reported.
The Croatian team comprised students Maja Roglić, Marko Kasun, Nika Ćavar, Loren Serdarević and Alma Đafić, and their coach and team manager Marija Jarnjak and Ivona Anić. This is the second year in a row that Croatia has won the bronze medal in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) category.
This year’s competition was the biggest ever, with 630 competitors from 65 countries who tested their skills in arguing, critical thinking and public speaking. A total of 290 debates were held during the twelve days of the competition in which students had to show their knowledge of current topics in politics, economy, sport, education and the like.
The two most successful teams – India and China – were faced with the motion -This House believes that the West should end all arms sales and military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
“We are exceptionally proud of this result. We worked long and hard. We had a lot of strong opponents. From debate to debate, our students were better and better and that can be seen with this medal. We have a lot of potential for the future,” the team’s coach Ivona Anić said.
The competition was held under the auspices of President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić and organised by the Croatian Debate Society. About one hundred volunteers helped organise the competition.
