[debate-l] Invitation to the tournament in Slovenia

[bojana.skrt at siol.net]

ZIP, Za in proti, zavod za kulturo dialoga, Slovenia and Gimnazija Franca Miklošiča Ljutomer kindly  invite you to the INTERNATIONAL DEBATE WEEKEND, Ljutomer 14th to 15th of October. 

Here we are again, inviting you to our traditional INTERNATIONAL DEBATE WEEKEND in Ljutomer. This year this event  usually   held in December will be held in October  due to the visit of  a group of  10 Californian highschool debaters who are visiting Ljutomer debate club. The visit is a first of the series of exchanges between Claremont  and Slovenian debate program.  

At the weekend tournament around 100 debaters from all over Slovenia will participate and 40 to 50 debaters from abroad. This year debaters will have a choice to debate in Karl Popper   or Worlds Schools Debate Format, as we are organising two parallel tournaments. When applying teams need to tell us in which format are they going to debate. On Thursday    there will be  debate workshops organized, from some  elements of advanced debate theory  to specifics of the Karl Popper, for the ones who will debate at KP tournament and Worlds School Debate Format, for the ones who will decide to debate at the Worlds Schools Debate Format. The trainings will be conducted by Bojana Skrt, director of ZIP and  dr  Alfred C. Snider from University of Vermont.   

Of course, this event is not only the tournament, but far more, an opportunity for debaters from different countries to exchange their experiences, socialize, make friendships and more … So, we kindly invite participants  to come to Ljutomer a few days earlier and  be guests of debaters from Ljutomer.  We also expect you will participate in different classrooms in the mornings and in the afternoons debate with Ljutomer's debaters.     This year the participants can also experience one of the most important activity in the Ljutomer region: the grape picking. Interesting, educative, lots of fun, that what it is – the traditional Ljutomer grape  picking! 

Debaters will be offered home stay with Ljutomer debaters, coaches/judges will be accomodated in the Hotel Jeruzalem in Ljutomer. The participation fee per debater is 25Euros per the whole event, coaches do not pay  participation fee, however they pay their accomodation/food  in the Hotel Jeruzalem (around 25 Euros per day). The payments should be made in cash on the arrivals.   

All the motions debated at the tournament will be connected with European Parliament and  will be announced at the weekend of 15th of September after the voting  about them   in Slovenian debate clubs will be over. They are choosing from  the following ones: 
European Parliament is as important as the national parliaments. 
The voting age for the elections of European Parliament should be 16 years old. 
It is justified having affirmative action for European Parliament elections to achieve higher representation of women in the EP.  
It is justified for Roma having  a special seat in the European Parliament.  
It is justified for  minors having  a special seat in the European Parliament. 
In the European Parliament each EU  member country should have the same number of members. 
In the European Parliament there should be represented only the European politic parties.  
European Parliament should operate only in the EU working languages.  
European Parliament it is not needed. 
European Parliament should be placed in Brussellex. 

Three teams per country can participate at this event (However in case there is bigger interest, please, contact us and we will see what can we do about it.)To avoid multiple applications from one country and because ZIP can not make a selection when more  teams apply from one country, we will accept only the applications sent by national debate organisations in cases when such organisation exists. 

Please, send the  applications (there is no special form) with the following information: 
-	name, surname, gender and age of debaters, 
-	name and surname of coaches and judges,
-	name of  the teams, 
-	in which debate format are they going to debate, 
-	coaches and judges please write a few sentences about your judging experience
-	your arrival time

as soon as possible, but not later than 7th of October,to my e-mail adress: bojana.skrt at siol.net  

All the inquires about travel, local environment, weather, local food, habits … should be sent to Liana Miholič, the coach of Ljutomer' English Debate Club, liana.miholic at guest.arnes.si  

See you all in Ljutomer, 
Bojana 

The tournament is a part of the project entitled »FOR MY EVERYDAY LIFE THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IS  AS IMPORTANT AS THE SLOVENIAN PARLIAMENT”  co-financed by European Parliament.  

This year  Slovenian debate program celebrates its 10th anniversary!