Download - Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
1/28
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
2/28
1
Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
Introducon ..
2
Why Singapore? . 3
Why 2015? . 3
Provisional metable . 4
Accommodaon . 5
Key members of the bid commiee . 6
Advisers to the bid commiee . 10
Financial maers 11
Debang and educaon in Singapore . 13
Singapores involvement in WSDC 14
Memories of the last WSDC in Singapore . 16
General informaon about Singapore .17
Endorsements .. 21
Fun facts .. 26
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
3/28
Greengs to the members of the World Schools Debang Championships community!
This document outlines the details of Singapores bid to host the championship in 2015.
Singapore rst parcipated in WSDC in 1995 and has sent a team to the compeon every year since then so 2015
will mark the 20th anniversary of Singapores entry into the championships.
Even more signicantly, 2015 will also be the 50th anniversary of Singapores independence. It will be a year of cele-braons in our small island naon, and hence a great year for us to welcome the WSDC community to our country.
We have hosted the championship once before, back in 2002, so we have the experience of having organised the
event. Our bid commiee includes a few individuals who were key members of the organising commiee back in
2002 along with a number of new people, and we would love the opportunity to deliver a great event for the WSDC
community in 2015.
We have a large and very enthusiasc pool of schools in Singapore who are involved in our local debang circuit
who will relish the opportunity to host WSDC debates. Warm welcomes and large audiences for debates can be
guaranteed at all the host schools.
Singapore is also a cultural melng pot with many excing things for visitors to see and do. We hope to be able toshare all of this with the WSDC community in our naons golden jubilee year.
Details of our bid can also be found at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/SingaporeBidWSDC2015. If you
have any quesons about our bid, please feel free to e -mail the bid commiee at [email protected].
Several members of our bid commiee will also be at the 2013 championship in Antalya and will be happy to talk to
anyone who is there and answer any quesons. So if theres anything youd like to know, please ask.
Thanks for reading our bid document. We hope to be welcoming you in Singapore in 2015.
Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
2
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
4/28
A convenient travel desnaon
Located right at the centre of Southeast Asia and boasng one of the worlds best airports, Singapore will be a conven-
ient desnaon for vising delegaons to travel to with direct ights from most of the worlds major airports.
An easy place to get around
As a small city state with excellent transport facilies, the venues for virtually all debates and social events will be within
half an hours travelling distance of each other.
Strong debang tradions
Singapore has a very well established school debang circuit with over 100 schools taking part in WSDC -format inter-
school debang compeons every year. Singapore can oer:
- A large number of schools with excellent facilies and enthusiasc students and sta who will be delighted to
host rounds of the championships. Singapores schools are well known for being eciently organised and ex-
tremely welcoming to visitors.
-
A wide network of experienced local debate judges who are very familiar with the WSDC debate format to com-plement the internaonal judging pool and help ensure good quality judging panels for every debate.
A city well prepared for big events
Singapore is used to hosng major events. For example, the country hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
With modern, well equipped schools and excellent infrastructure and conferencing facilies, Singapore has everything
needed to host a world-class educaonal event.
A cultural experience
As a diverse and mul-cultural island naon, we can assure parcipants an outstanding cultural as well as educaonal
experience.
A great place to visit
Numerous places of interest and places to shop will be within easy reach of the championship hotel.
A strong organising team
Singapore has hosted WSDC once before back in 2002. Our bid commiee includes some people who were key mem-
bers of the 2002 organising commiee who know exactly what it takes to run this event, along with other individuals who
will bring new ideas, energy and enthusiasm. The bid commiee includes a mix of people who work for the Ministry of
Educaon, other areas of the civil service and the private sector who have the experience and the connecons and, most
importantly, a passionate desire to put together a great WSDC event.
A signicant year for Singapore
2015 is the 50th anniversary of Singapores independence. We look forward to sharing this occasion with the internaon-
al debang community.
A signicant year for our debang community
2015 is also the 20th anniversary of Singapores rst parcipaon in WSDC a signicant milestone for the Singapore
debang community which we would love mark by hosng the event.
An organising team in placeOur bid commiee is made up of people who are commied to pung in the me necessary over the next 2 years to
organise an outstanding championship.
Why Singapore?
Why 2015?
3
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
5/28
Day 1 Monday, 20th July 2015
Arrivals
Registraon
Day 2 Tuesday, 21st July 2015
Opening day acvies for teams
Training workshop for adjudicators
Opening ceremony
Day 3 Wednesday, 22nd July 2015
Debate rounds 1 & 2
Day 4 Thursday, 23rd July 2015
Debate rounds 3 & 4
Day 5 Friday, 24th July 2015
Debate rounds 5 & 6
Day 6 Saturday, 25th July 2015
Bye-round (if necessary)
Tours and acvies
Day 7 Sunday, 26th July 2015
Debate rounds 7 & 8
Break night party
Day 8 Monday, 27th July 2015
Octo-nals
Tournament Commiee meeng part 1
Oponal tours/acvies for teams in the aernoon
Day 9 Tuesday, 28th July 2015
Quarter-nals
Semi-nals
Day 10 Wednesday, 29th July 2015
Tournament Commiee meeng part 2
Grand Final
Closing dinner
Day 11 Thursday, 30th July 2015
Departures
Note:
Social events will be added to the schedule
on a number of the evenings
Provisional schedule
4
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
6/28
The parcipants will be accommodated
at 2 hotels close Singapores city centre
the Copthorne Kings Hotel and the
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel
both of which are located across the
street from each other on opposite sides
of Havelock Road (with a footbridge go-
ing over the road to make moving be-
tween the 2 hotels easy).
Delegaons will be kept together, with
each naons delegaon being assigned
to stay in either the Copthorne Kings or
the Grand Copthorne Waterfront. Most
parcipants will stay in twin rooms,
though single and triple rooms will also
be available. All rooms will have private
en-suite bathrooms and free wireless
internet access. The facilies of both ho-
tels will be available to WSDC parci-
pants, and all parcipants will come to-
gether every morning in one of the ho-
tels ballrooms for breakfast and a daily
brieng session.
Both hotels have their own restaurants,
swimming pools, jacuzzis, gymnasiums,
gi shops and business centres. The
Grand Copthorne also has tennis courts
and the Copthorne Kings also has a mini
golf-pung green.
The hotels are located by the banks of
the Singapore River. The Great World City
shopping complex (one of Singapore larg-
est shopping malls with numerous shops
and restaurants and a mul-screen cine-
ma) is less than 5 minutes walk away.
Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay and China
Town are about 10 minutes walk from
the hotels, and Singapores main shop-
ping street, Orchard Road, is a short bus
ride away (with regular shule buses
from Great World City).
The central locaon of the hotels will
mean that virtually all the debate and
social event venues for the champion-
ships will be within half an hours travel-
ling distance by coach.
www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/
copthornekingssingapore
www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/
grandcopthornewaterfront
Accommodaon
5
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
7/28
Proposed Co-Convenor Mark Gabriel
Mark Gabriel served on the organising commiee of WSDC 2002 in Singapore as the Tourna-
ment Director, and was the Co-Chief Adjudicator of WSDC 2007 in Seoul. He has been a
judge at 9 WSDCs since 2000 and has served on the World Schools Debang Council Execu-ve Commiee (the commiee now know as the Tournament Execuve) as the Vice-
Chairman (2007-08) and Secretary (2002-07).
Within Singapore, Mark is currently the Tournament Director of the Singapore Secondary
Schools Debang Championships (the naonal championship for students aged 12 -16) and
the Chief Adjudicator of the Ministry of Educaon-ACJC Intercollegiate Debang Champion-
ships (the naonal championship for students aged 16-18), and is a former Vice-President
and Treasurer of Debate Associaon Singapore. He is currently a teacher and director of an
educaonal business and regularly conducts debang, public speaking and communicaon
skills courses in schools throughout Singapore.
Mark was an acve compeve debater for the University of London as an undergraduate
and Cambridge University as a postgraduate, and was a Grand Finalist at the European Uni-
versies Debang Championships in 1999 in Roerdam.
E-mail: [email protected]
Proposed Co-Convenor Evelyn Woels
Evelyn Woels is a Senior Curriculum Specialist in the English Language Unit at Singapores
Ministry of Educaon, and currently oversees key aspects of the Ministrys involvement in
debang.
Evelyn has been the Team Manager of Singapores WSDC team since 2006, and has aended
WSDC 7 mes in this capacity. Singapore has enjoyed considerable success at WSDC during
Evelyns me as Team Manager, winning the championship in 2011, nishing runners-up in
2007, reaching the semi-nals on 3 further occasions, and producing the tournaments top-
ranked individual speaker in 2011 and 2012.
Evelyn is also currently one of the ocers at the ministry responsible for running the Minis-
try of Educaon-ACJC Intercollegiate Debang Championships (Singapores naonal champi-
onship for students aged 16-18).
E-mail: [email protected]
Key members of the bid commiee
Image courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
6
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
8/28
Proposed Co-Chief Adjudicator Aaron Maniam
Aaron Maniam previously served as the Chief Adjudicator of WSDC in 2008 in Washington
DC, and will be one of the Co -Chief Adjudicators at WSDC 2013 in Antalya.
Aaron rst aended WSDC as a debater in 1997 in Bermuda, where he was a member of the
Singapore team which reached the semi-nals. He was the co-coach of Singapores WSDC
team in 2003 in Lima, where the team reached the Grand Final.
Within Singapore, Aaron is a former Chief Adjudicator of the Singapore Secondary Schools
Debang Championships and a former President of Debate Associaon Singapore. He cur-
rently works as the Director of the Instute for Policy Development at Singapores Civil Ser-
vice College. He has previously served as Deputy Director of Singapores Strategic Policy
Oce, and as First Secretary (Polical) at the Singapore Embassy in Washington DC. He was
a recipient of the Singapore Youth Award in 2012 for his volunteer work as a youth mentor.
He is also a published poet, and his debut collecon of poetry, Morning at Memorys Border,
was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize in 2007.
As an undergraduate student at Oxford University, Aaron served as the Chairman of the Ox-
ford Unions Debates Selecon Commiee and was a member of the team which won the
European Universies Debang Championships in 2000 in Aberdeen.
E-mail: [email protected]
Note:
If the bid is successful,
Aaron will serve as
one of two Chief Adju-
dicators.
A second Chief Adju-dicator from outside
Singapore will be
nominated at a later
date.
Proposed Organising Commiee Secretary Dr Vernie Oliveiro
Vernie Oliveiro was the Co-Chief Adjudicator of WSDC 2002 in Singapore. She was a debater
on Singapores team at WSDC in 1996 in Canberra and in 1997 in Bermuda, reaching the
semi-nals on both occasions. Since then, she has since aended WSDC as a judge on 7 oc-
casions.
Vernie completed a PhD in the Department of History at Harvard University in 2011. She
now works as a researcher at Singapores Civil Service College. She is a former Secretary of
Debate Associaon Singapore and a regular judge at schools debang compeons in Singa-
pore.
E-mail: [email protected]
Proposed Organising Commiee Treasurer Anil Singh
Anil Singh currently works as a Business Development Manager in Singapore. His interest in
debang was ignited through his daughters, both of whom were very acve debaters on the
inter-school circuit in Singapore. His elder daughter Rohini was a member of Singapores
WSDC team in 2001 and 2002 (and was ranked the number 2 speaker of the tournament in
2002).
Anil served as the Treasurer of Debate Associaon Singapore for 4 years, and has strongly
supported the development of school-level debang in Singapore over the past several
years.
E-mail: [email protected]
7
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
9/28
Proposed Communicaons & Registraon Ocer
Samuel Myat San
Samuel Myat San debated at WSDC 2000 in Pisburgh as the captain of the Singapore team
which reached the quarter-nals. He subsequently went on to Harvard University, where he
was the Vice-President of the Harvard Speech and Parliamentary Debate Society and won
mulple tournaments on the parliamentary debate circuit in the US, including the 2006 Unit-
ed States Universies Debang Championships (the US naonal tournament for Brish Par-
liamentary debang). He has also returned to WSDC as a judge.
Sam is currently a professional debate coach in Singapore. He previously served as the Assis-
tant Director of the Intellectual Property Division at Singapores Ministry of Law, and as First
Secretary at the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi. He is a former Secretary of De-
bate Associaon Singapore.
E-mail: [email protected]
Proposed Logiscs Ocer Lucas Li
Lucas Li was a debater on the Singapore team at WSDC 2005 in Calgary, reaching the octo -
nals. He subsequently went on to debate for Brown University in the United States as an
undergraduate and Cambridge University in England as a postgraduate, winning mulple
debate tles. He has also judged at numerous school- and university-level debang tourna-
ments.
Lucas is currently a manager in the Natural Resources Division of Internaonal Enterprise
Singapore (a statutory board of Singapores Ministry of Trade and Industry). He is also exten-
sively involved in coaching debang teams, judging at tournaments, and organising schoolsdebate events and debate training workshops in Singapore.
E-mail: [email protected]
Proposed Organising Commiee Member Geetha Creeld
Geetha Creeld was the coach of the very rst Singapore team to compete at WSDC in
1995. Since then, she has coached Singapores team on 11 further occasions including the
2011 tournament in Dundee where Singapore won the championships, and the 2003 compe-
on in Lima where Singapore nished runners-up. Members of her teams have also n-
ished as the top-ranked speaker at WSDC 3 mes (in 2001, 2011 and 2012).
Geetha has also aended 3 WSDCs as a judge. She was the Vice -Chairman of World Schools
Debang Council Execuve Commiee from 2008-09, and is currently on the Board of Direc-
tors of WSDC Ltd.
Geetha was the founding President of Debate Associaon Singapore and is a former Chief
Adjudicator of the Singapore Secondary Schools Debang Championships. She is currently
the Head of Arts at Anglo-Chinese Junior College in Singapore. She was a recipient of Singa-
pores Presidents Award for Teachers in 1998.
E-mail: [email protected]
8
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
10/28
Proposed Organising Commiee Member Teoh Teik Kee
Teoh Teik Kee is currently a director of 3 listed companies in Singapore and Hong Kong. He is
a London-trained Chartered Accountant, and has held senior management roles in banking
and stock-broking rms in Singapore and Malaysia.
Teik Kees son, Teoh Ren Jie, was a member of Singapores WSDC team for 5 years from
2008-12. (Ren Jie was the captain of the Singapore team which won the 2011 championships
in Dundee, and was the tournaments top -ranked speaker in both 2011 and 2012.) Teik Kee
aended WSDC as an observer in all 5 of the years in which Ren Jie debated at the compe-
on, and is now very excited about helping to bring the event in Singapore.
E-mail: [email protected]
If the bid is successful, the individuals listed here will form the core of the organising commiee.Further members will then be added to the organising commiee during the coming months.
Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
9
Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
11/28
Adviser Loke Wing Fa
Loke Wing Fa is a Singaporean debate trainer who has been the coach of Chinas WSDC
team since 2010. He is currently the President of the Society for Associated Inter -Terary
Debaters (SAID), a Singapore-based non-prot organisaon which organises training events
and tournaments for school and university debaters across Asia. A former secondary school
teacher in Singapore, he has conducted debang workshops in over a dozen dierent coun-
tries over the past 2 decades and has established debang compeons in various naons,
including the China Naonal High School Debang Championships. He has been made an
Honorary Professor at both North-Eastern University and the Beijing University of Technolo-
gy for his signicant contribuons to developing debate educaon in China. He is also a Fel-
low of the World Debate Instute at the University of Vermont.
Adviser Li Shengwu
Li Shengwu was a debater on the Singapore team which reached the Grand Final of WSDC
2003 in Lima. He has since returned to WSDC as a judge on 2 occasions.
Shengwu was a member of the Oxford University team which won the European Universies
Debang Championships in 2009 in Newcastle. He was also a Grand Finalist at World Univer-
sies Debang Championships in 2010 in Antalya, where he was ranked the Best Speaker of
the Tournament. He was a Deputy Chief Adjudicator at the European Universies Debang
Championships in 2011 Galway, and is due to be the Chief Adjudicator of that compeon in
2013 in Manchester.
Shengwu is currently a student at Stanford University, where he is working towards a PhD in
Economics.
Adviser Jonathan Yuen
Jonathan Yuen is a lawyer who is currently a Partner in the Commercial Ligaon Pracce
Group and the Head of the Intellectual Property and Technology Group at Harry Elias Part-nership LLP, one of Singapores largest law rms.
Jonathan was a debater on the very rst Singapore team to compete at WSDC back in 1995
in Cardi, where his team reached the quarter-nals. He went on to debate at university
level for the Naonal University of Singapore, where he was the captain of the universitys
debang team.
Jonathan remains very acvely involved with schools debang in Singapore today. He is cur-
rently the co-ordinator of the annual Harry Elias Partnership LLP Naonal Law Debates (a
tournament with a focus on legal issues which is organised and sponsored by his law rm) as
well as serving as an adjudicator at other compeons.
Advisers to the bid commieewho will connue advising the organising commiee if the bid is successful
10
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
12/28
At this point in me, we can conrm that the registraon fee in Singapore dollars for debaters, coaches, adjudicators and
team managers in Singapore Dollars will be no more than S$1,150 per person (which is approximately US$940, 700 or
580 at current exchange rates). If sponsorship allows us to reduce this fee, we will do so.
Observers will pay a higher registraon fee which will be conrmed in due course.
The registraon fee will cover 10 nights of accommodaon in twin - or triple-sharing hotel rooms, transport to all debate
and social event venues, airport transfers on the arrival and departure days, several social events and most meals.
(Breakfast will be provided at the hotel every morning during the championships. Lunch will be provided on at least 7 of
the days, and dinner will be provided on at least 4-5 of the evenings.)
The bid commiee is currently in the process of securing sponsorship for the championships. So far we have received
pledges from private benefactors, as well as indicaons of support from public agencies. A number of other potenal
sponsors have also indicated that they will be willing to come on board once the bid is secured. The organising commiee
will be focusing on raising as much sponsorship as possible in order to keep registraon fees as low as we can.
Financial maers
11
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
13/28
Dra budget
Accommodaon S$ 700,000
Transport S$ 20,000
Meals, social events & tours S$ 280,000
Venue hire S$ 40,000
Prizes & souvenirs S$ 10,000
General operaons & admin S$ 50,000
Underwring & conngency S$ 50,000
Total S$ 1,150,000
Expenses Income
Registraon fees S$ 575,000
Sponsorship S$ 575,000
Total S$ 1,150,000
Note: All gures are in Singapore dollars
Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
12
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
14/28
Debang has been a popular compeve acvity between
educaonal instuons in Singapore for several decades.
Aer Singapore began compeng in the World Schools De-bang Championships in 1995, most of the school-level de-
bang tournaments switched to using the WSDC debate
format. Consequently Singapore has a large pool of judges,
coaches and debaters who are very familiar with the rules
and expectaons of WSDC-format debates.
The largest debang tournament in Singapore is the annual
Singapore Secondary Schools Debang Championships. Over
80 schools enter teams in this event every year, which in-
volves debaters aged 12-16. The compeon, which is run
by Julia Gabriel Centre and co-organised by Debate Associa-
on Singapore, is held over a series of Friday evenings in
February to April, with dierent schools hosng each round.
Students complete their secondary school-level educaon
in Singapore at age 16, when they take their O-Level exam-
inaons. Aer that, students go on to a junior college or
centralised instute (academically-focused instuons
where students planning to go on to university take A-
Level examinaons), or to a polytechnic or a branch of the
Instute of Technical Educaon (which oer more vocaon-
ally-based educaonal programmes). All of these instu-
ons are acvely involved in debang, and their naonal
debang championship is run by the Ministry of Educaon.
For the past few years, this highly-compeve event has
been hosted in late-May/early-June by Anglo-Chinese Junior
College (ACJC) and has been known as the Ministry of Edu-
caon-ACJC Intercollegiate Debates.
Many other smaller debang tournaments involving second-
ary school and pre-university instuons also take place
throughout the year.
In recent years, primary school-level debang events involv-
ing students aged 12 and below have also begun to develop
the largest of which is the annual Wits and Words compe-
on which is jointly organised by the Ministry of Educaonand Debate Associaon Singapore.
The university debang scene in Singapore is also very ac-
ve, with several tournaments being held in Singapore eve-
ry year. Singapore universies regularly parcipate in inter-
naonal events such as the World Universies Debang
Championships and the Australasian Intervarsity Debang
Championships.
With well over 100 dierent educaonal instuons taking
part in debang compeons every year in the small island
naon, there will be no shortage of potenal host venuesfor the World Schools Debang Championships in Singa-
pore.
Debang and educaon in Singapore
13
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
15/28
As the host naon
Singapore has hosted the World
Schools Debang Championships
on one previous occasion in
2002.
The organising body for the 2002
championships was Debate Asso-
ciaon Singapore (a non-prot
organisaon established in 1999 to support schools de-bang in Singapore). The principal sponsor and host was the
Singapore Internaonal Foundaon, with further support
and sponsorship coming from 8 dierent public and private
organisaons.
19 schools hosted rounds of the championships (8 second-
ary schools, 8 junior colleges, 2 internaonal schools and 1
university). In the years which have followed, many people
who aended the compeon have told us that the warm
and enthusiasc welcome they received at every schoolremains their most outstanding memory of the event, and
Singapores involvement in WSDC
14
Singapore rst entered a team in the World Schools De-bang Championships in 1995 in Cardi, and a Singapore
team has competed in every WSDC since then.
Over the 18 WSDC tournaments from 1995 to 2012, Singa-
pore has a complied very strong record. Singapores team
has reached the knock-out stages of every WSDC it has en-
tered having nished as champions once, runners-up
twice, semi-nalists 6 mes, quarter-nalists 7 mes and
octo-nalists twice.
Singapore reached the Grand Final of WSDC for the rst
me in 2003 in Lima, when the team was defeated by Aus-
tralia. Singapores second Grand Final was in 2007 in Seoul,which ended in a loss to Scotland.
In 2011 in Dundee, Singapore became the rst Asian naon
to win WSDC, defeang Australia in the Grand Final.
Singapore debaters have also been ranked the best individu-
al speaker at WSDC on 3 occasions. The rst me was in
2001 in Johannesburg, when Singapores Jonathan Pug
topped the individual speaker tab. Teoh Ren Jie then n-
ished as the number 1 speaker at both the 2011 compe-
on in Dundee and the 2012 tournament in Cape Town.
As a compeng team
The Singapore team which won the World Schools Debang Championships in 2011 in Dundee,
(from le to right) Ashish Kumar, Teoh Ren Jie, coach Geetha Creeld, team manager Evelyn Woels,
Benjamin Mak, Adil Hakeem and Ng Li Ki
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
16/28
Singapores Minister for Educaon, Teo Chee Hean (who
is now the countrys Deputy Prime Minister), meets the
teams at a recepon
Debaters sample tradional Asian delicacies during the
WSDC 2002 opening dinner
Team members try their hand at playing Southeast Asian
musical instruments during Asia Nite!
this is something which we are very condent will be re-
peated should the championships return to Singapore.
The semi-nals in 2002 were held in Singapores City Hall
and Parliament House. At the Grand Final, which took place
in Singapores famous Kallang Theatre, an audience of over
1,000 watched Ireland defeat Australia to emerge as cham-
pions.
On top of the debang, other highlights of WSDC 2002 in-
cluded opening day acvies on Sentosa island, an Asia
Nite! at the Singapore Khalsa Associaon, a recepon with
members of the diplomac community at Fort Canning Cen-
tre, a Singapore heritage trail and a break night party at
Hard Rock Caf.
For 2015, a bid commiee has been established which in-
cludes some key members of organising commiee from
the last WSDC in Singapore (including Mark Gabriel, who
was the Tournament Director in 2002, and Vernie Oliveiro,who was Co-Chief Adjudicator), along with several other
individuals who have become heavily involved in the de-
bang scene in Singapore over the past decade.
With the experience of having hosted the championships
over a decade ago and the vibrancy of a large debang com-
munity which has grown and ourished since the last me
we hosted the event, Singapore looks forward to the oppor-
tunity to welcome naonal schools debang teams from
across the globe to our small city state once again.
Noel McGrath of Ireland speaking in the Grand
Final against Australia at Singapores Kallang
Theatre
15
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
17/28
I have many fond memories of WSDC 2002. Not least of them is the spectacular opening ceremony. We
were entertained with Indian dancing, Malay bell ringing and a spectacular Chinese lion dance while we alltucked into a splendid tradional Chinese banquet! The audiences at all the Singaporean schools we visited
were enthusiasc and extremely welcoming. Spending me in a sunny, vibrant, mul -cultural city was an
experience I shall never forget!
Alex Just (Scotland) aended WSDC 2002 in Singapore as a debater
Looking back to the WSDC in Singapore aer 10 years, there is no queson about it the organisers man-
aged to put together one of the most memorable championships ever. It was not only the awless organisa-
on, great venues, capvang city or fascinang debates that made it a great success. WSDC 2002 stands
out for the very special feeling among everybody involved the true spirit of debang.
Ragnar Siil (Estonia) aended WSDC 2002 in Singapore as an adjudicator
I have great memories from WSDC 2002 in Singapore. It was my second year parcipang as a debater and
I remember being amazed not only by the impressive organisaon and eciency in how everything was run,
but also for the great opportunies to socialise and to get to know the country and the culture. It was de-
nitely one of those dening moments in my life by the impact it had on me, both from a debang perspec-
ve and also from an inter-cultural and internaonal point of view.
Dana Scholaender (Argenna) aended WSDC 2002 in Singapore as a debater
I remember that every school we visited in Singapore greeted us not just with amazing hospitality, but with
full auditoriums of excited students. I had never debated in front of so many people and it was very mo-
vang to have this many people hear what you have to say.
Irena Kokov (Czech Republic) aended WSDC 2002 in Singapore as a debater
I remember Singapore 2002 for very high levels of hospitality and organisaon. The host schools made us
feel exceponally welcome and there were notably large and aenve audiences, even for preliminary
round contests. The compact nature of the city made transport quick and easy, and the food was great!
Ian MacMullen (England) aended WSDC 2002 in Singapore as an adjudicator
WSDC Singapore was awlessly organised and an outstanding experience. I especially appreciated the large
audiences and warm welcomes at schools during preliminary rounds, including a string orchestra perfor-
mance. There was an unforgeable dance performance at the break night party, ending with a human pyra-
mid! Those are just a few examples of the aenon the organisaon paid to details that made a dierence
to me as a young debater and hopefully inspired other students in Singapore not to menon the inter-
esng sights of such a mulcultural place.
Eva Spoor (Netherlands) aended WSDC 2002 in Singapore as a debater
Memories of the last WSDC in Singapore
16
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
18/28
Once a humble shing village, Singapore today is a bustling cosmo-
politan city lled with a mix of high-rise buildings and landscaped
gardens. Located at the heart of Southeast Asia, the island naon has
a land area of about 710 square kilometres.
At present, Singapores populaon stands at about 5 million people
consisng primarily of the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian com-
munies. Each community has brought its own mix of culture, reli-
gion, food and language to the city state, giving Singapore a reputa-
on a cultural melng pot.
Singapore has four ocial languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and
Tamil. English is the common language spoken by almost everyone in
the country and is the language of business and government and the
medium of instrucon in schools. Most Singaporeans are bilingual,
speaking both English and another language.
2015 will mark Singapores 50th anniversary as an independent na-
on. In half a century, Singapores society has undergone many
transformaons. Accompanying rapid economic development, over
the past couple of decades there has been an increasing emphasis on
arsc and cultural development and the growth of a more acve
cizenry. In recent years, Singapore has witnessed a growing interest
in and encouragement of public discourse, as well as an increasing
awareness among Singapores cizens of developments which aect
the country and the region. The privilege of hosng the World School
Debang Championships will undoubtedly help to enhance these
areas of development in Singapores golden jubilee year.
Travel
Internaonal ights to Singapore come into Singapore Changi Air-
port. One of the main aviaon hubs in Asia, there are direct ights
into the airport available from most of the worlds major travel hubs.
Changi Airport is widely considered to be one of the best airports in
the world and has won numerous internaonal awards. It has been
ranked in the top 3 in the Skytrax Worlds Best Airport Awards every
year since 2001. Located on the east coast of Singapore, the airport is
about 25 minutes drive from the city centre.
Visas
Most foreign visitors to Singapore do not require visas for visits of 30
days or less. Cizens of the following countries are currently required
to obtain visas before travelling to Singapore: Afghanistan, Algeria,
Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran,
Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Mo-
rocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,
Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
and Yemen.
.
General informaon about Singapore
Photos courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
17
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
19/28
Weather
Singapore is located about 85 miles from the equator and has a trop-
ical climate all year round. Temperatures generally range from 23-
32C (73-90F). Relave humidity averages around 75%. While its
generally bright and sunny throughout the year, short but heavy rain
showers are also common
Currency
The currency used in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar (S$). At the
beginning of 2013, approximate exchange rates were as follows:
US Dollar US$1.00 = S$1.20
Euro 1.00 = S$1.60
Pound Sterling 1.00 = S$2.00
Food
Singapore is famous for its food. From chilli crab, to Hainanese chick-
en rice, to Malay sambal dishes, Indian ro prata and much, much
more, those with adventurous taste buds will not be disappointed.
Those who are pathologically addicted to hamburgers, pizza and
Coke, will also nd that Singapore is not lacking in major internaon-
al chains like McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut to stop
those withdrawal syndromes from aacking. The island has plenty of
restaurants and food centres to suit all tastes and budgets. Meals at
local food courts or fast food restaurants can easily be found for
S$6.00 or less.
Religion
Singapores populaon encompasses people of many dierent
faiths, including Buddhism, Chrisanity, Islam, Taoism, Hinduism,
Sikhism and Judaism. Visitors will be able to nd places of worship
for numerous dierent faiths during their stay in Singapore.
Places of Interest
The bid commiee plans to include visits to at least a few of the
places listed below in the WSDC 2015 inerary, either as oponal
tours or as venues for opening day acvies or social events. Other
places listed will be within easy reach for parcipants who wish to
explore them.
Sentosa IslandWe held the opening day acvies of the 2002 championships on
this oshore island which is connected to Singapore by a bridge, a
monorail train and cable cars. As well as several beaches, the island
is also home to the Universal Studios amusement park, the MegaZip
Adventure Park, the Sentosa Luge, a Buery Park, the Dolphin
Photos courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
18
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
20/28
Lagoon, Underwater World and Marine Life Park aquac features,
the famous Sentosa Musical Fountain, and the historic Fort Siloso.
Wildlife experiencesLocated within 40 hectares of forest by the Upper Seletar Reservoir,
the Singapore Zoo is world famous not only for its range of over 300
animal species displayed in naturalisc landscaped enclosures, but
also for its Rainforest Walk aracon, its animal shows and for oer-ing visitors that chance to enjoy Breakfast with the Orangutans. Singa-
pore also has 3 other major wildlife aracons. The Night Safari is the
worlds rst nocturnal zoo, oering the chance to see over 1000 ani-
mals in an environment in which they are rarely witnessed. The re-
cently-opened River Safari gives visitors the chance to travel around a
wildlife park by boat and view animals in the lush jungle around the
banks of Mandai Lake. The Jurong Bird Park oers the chance to view
over 350 bird species in dierent environments, including the worlds
largest walk-in aviary.
Nature experiences
The newly-opened 101
-acre Gardens by the Bay oers visitors the
chance to relax in a 2 kilometre waterfront promenade on the edge of
the city, view over 250,000 rare plants in huge domed conservatories,
and climb spectacular 16-storey eco-friendly manmade Supertrees
around the Marina Reservoir. The Singapore Botanic Gardens boasts
the worlds largest display of orchids amidst sprawling landscaped
gardens in the heart of the city. If youre looking for a more rusc ex-
perience, the natural environments of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve,
MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Labrador Nature Reserve or the Sungei
Buloh Wetland Reserve oer the chance to experience this part of the
world in a more natural state.
Taking in the sights
If youre looking for a birds eye view of Singapore, the worlds tallest
Ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer, oers the opportunity to take in the
city from a vantage point 165 metres o the ground. Another great
way to view Singapore is from the Skydeck at the Marina Bay Sands
hotel, overlooking the Marina Bay Street Circuit where the annual
Formula One motor race takes place.
MuseumsFrom the historical displays at the Naonal Museum, the Asian Civili-
saons Museum and the Changi Museum, to cung-edge innova-
ons at the ArtScience Museum and the Singapore Science Centre, to
quirkier places of interest like the MINT Museum of Toys and theMarime Experienal Museum, Singapore has no lack of exhibions
and displays to suit all tastes.
ShoppingSingapore is well known as a shopping desnaon. The main retail
and entertainment hub in the centre of town is Orchard Road, a 2
kilometre-long stretch packed with shopping malls and other places of
interest which is among the worlds best-know shopping streets. If
youre looking for more uniquely Asian shopping and cultural experi-
ences, youll discover pockets of Old World charm tradions all over
the island in places like China Town, Lile India and Kampong Glam.
Photos courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
19
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
21/28
Photos courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
20
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
22/28
Endorsements
21
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
23/28
22
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
24/28
23
15 December 2012
The Members of the Tournament Committee
World Schools Debating Championships
Dear Delegates,
Support for Singapores bid to host the World Schools Debating Championships in 2015
Debate Association (Singapore) would like to express its warm and enthusiastic support for
Singapores bid to host the World Schools Debating Championships in 2015.
Debate Association (Singapore) was founded in 1999 to support the development of school-level
debating in Singapore. To that end we brought the World Schools Debating Championships to
Singapore as the organising body for the 2002 WSDC championships, with the support of the
Singapore International Foundation who were the principal sponsors and hosts.
The current bid committee includes our associations founding President, Geetha Creffield,
another of our former Presidents, Aaron Maniam, our former Vice-President, Mark Gabriel, our
former Treasurer, Anil Singh, and two of our former Secretaries, Vernie Oliveiro and Samuel
Myat San. All of these people still maintain close connections with our association and have made
very considerable contributions to the development of schools debating in Singapore. Togetherwith the other members of the bid committee, we have no doubt that they will make an excellent
organising team.
We are very excited about the prospect of the World Schools Debating Championships returning
to Singapore in 2015. If the bid is successful, Debate Association (Singapore) as well as the wider
schools debating community will give our full support to the organising committee, and providewhatever organisational assistance we can to help make the event a success.
We look forward to a successful bid.
Yours Sincerely,
Emmanuel Paul NgPresident
Debate Association (Singapore)
http://www.debates.org.sg/
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
25/28
24
17th December 2012
The Tournament Committee
World Schools Debating Championships
Dear Delegates,
Letter of Support for the Bid for Singapore WSDC 2015
My name is Loke Wing Fatt, President of the Society for Associated Inter-Tertiary Debaters
(SAID) in Singapore.SAIDis a non-profit debate education organisation established in 2003
in Singapore to promote the benefits of debate as a personal growth and self-development
activity among the youths of the world. More information about SAID could be found at this
website: saidsg.wordpress.com
I wish to state very clearly that SAID fully supports Singapores bid to host the World
Schools Debating Championships in 2015.SAID will work closely with the Bid Committee
for Singapore WSDC 2015 and provide all the necessary help to make the Tournament a
resounding success and one for all the participants to remember for a long time to come.
My best wishes to the Bid Committee for Singapore WSDC 2015 and we look forward to
seeing the WSDC debating community in our sunny island-state very soon!
Thank you.
Best regards,
Loke Wing Fatt
President
Society for Associated Inter-Tertiary Debaters (SAID)
SingaporeWebsite: saidsg.wordpress.com
104 Lengkong Tiga, #04-365, Singapore 410104
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
26/28
25
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
27/28
There has been at least one member of Singapores WSDC 2015 bid commiee at every WSDC since 1995.
If you add together the number of mes that each member of Singapores bid commiee has aended WSDC,the total number is 53.
3 members of Singapores bid commiee have served as Chief Adjudicator of WSDC.
4 members of Singapores bid commiee have judged the WSDC Grand Final a total of 9 mes between them.
4 members of Singapores bid commiee have aended WSDC as a debater (3 of them once and 1 of them
twice).
At WSDC 2002 in Singapore, Ireland became the 7th naon to win the championships (joining Australia, Cana-
da, England, New Zealand, Scotland and the United States as championship-winning countries). Since then,
only one further naon has won WSDC Singapore in 2011.
The largest delegaon of debaters, coaches, adjudicators and observers Singapore sent to a WSDC outside
Singapore was 19 (in Lima in 2003).
The record number of mes a debater from Singapore has competed at WSDC is 5 (and his parents also
aended all 5 of those WSDCs as observers).
Singapore is the only Asian naon to have won WSDC, and one of only 2 Asian naons to have reached the
Grand Final (the other being Pakistan).
2 members of Singapores bid commiee have competed against each other in the Grand Final of the Europe-
an Universies Debang Championships.
2 members of Singapores bid commiee have (literally) entered a lions den while aending a WSDC.
Fun facts
26
-
7/29/2019 Singapore Bid Document for WSDC 2015
28/28
Bid to host the 2015 World Schools Debang
Championships in Singapore
www.facebook.com/SingaporeBidWSDC2015