On 12 December 2024, Rīgas Zolitūdes ģimnāzija organised the Riga Beaver Cup Debate Tournament!
It was spearheaded by Riga Zolitude Grammar school students Nikola Žinkeviča and Liza Zavadska, supported by a community of teachers and upper-secondary school students who took on roles as judges, timekeepers, and members of the organizing team.
Sixteen teams participated, representing RTU International School of Science and Technology, Rīgas 22. vidusskola, Rigas 95 Vidusskola, and, of course, the Riga Zolitude Grammar School cohort of debaters.
The tournament was an improvisation format. Motions were announced 20 minutes before each round. Each team played two rounds.
The first-round motion was "School final exams should be abolished."
The second-round resolution was "AI systems can truly be trusted to make ethical decisions."
Finalists were chosen based on individual scores from the two rounds. In the final, improvised teams were created by combining the best speakers from different schools. The topic for the final round was randomly selected in the Assembly Hall by an audience representative, who blindly picked a piece of paper with the motion, and it was "We should prioritise improving recycling and waste management systems instead of banning plastic."
The final game was unique because the teams had to adapt to diversity and collaborate with people they barely knew—an extremely important skill in the modern world!
Congratulations to the winners:
1st Place: Sofija Čestniha (RZG), Matiss Liepnieks (ISST), Valentīns Ošmjans (22.vsk)
2nd Place: Jegor Bovturkevich (RZG), Kirills Brjuhoveckis (95.vsk), Artūrs Gaiķens (RZG)
Best Speakers:Kira Selihova (RZG), Eva Anna Bartpurviņa (RZG), Anna Sizova (RZG), Aleksander Semenov (ISST), Anna Kalnina (ISST), Kristiana Solima (ISST), Polina Hrušova (RZG), Maija Baum (22.vsk), Artūrs Milužs (95.vsk), Vladlens Vojevodins (95.vsk).
We deeply appreciate every participant and all the teacher and student volunteers who contributed. Let us take a moment to reflect on yesterday, commend the players for their outstanding performances, cherish the valuable lessons we learned, and move forward together toward new horizons.
We will continue our collaboration within the Nordplus DABA Hub - Nordplus Junior project 2024-2026 with RTU ISST and plan to organise more tournaments at Riga Zolitude Grammar School.
Fun fact: The beaver, the tournament mascot, is a symbol of perseverance and teamwork. Beavers are known for building intricate dams and lodges, which require incredible collaboration and problem-solving skills—qualities essential for great debaters!
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