World Debate Championships.

The Bermuda International Debate Team and two reserves will leave the Island on January 25 for the two-week competition.

Seventeen-year-olds Trevor Leitch of Saltus and Jennifer Rhind of Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Berkeley Institute's 16-year-olds Vincent Richardson, Eugene Johnston and Jordan Zancanella along with their 15-year-old reserves Kalilah Robinson and Ian Ostroff Striffler, of Saltus, are all anticipating the annual competition. Each of the 18 countries involved will participate in four prepared and four impromptu debates before the quarter-finalists are chosen.

From there the semi-finalists will be selected, and then all eyes will be cast on the two finalists.

"There is no real prize,'' Trevor said. "You just win bragging rights until next year.'' He added: "This is the first time the competition will be in a non-English speaking country so it will be a real cultural experience for all of us.

"It is a chance for us to debate against the best in the world, and hopefully become one of them.'' Jennifer, who has never travelled east of Bermuda, said: "This is going to be really different for me. It is going to be a long flight, but I know it will it will be worth it because we'll be able to meet a lot of people from a lot of different countries as well as improve our knowledge and debating skills.'' Although the team will spend most of their time debating, they will also have some free time to attend social events, including dances and a field-trip to neighbouring Jordan.