Not in Botswana!
It’s time for the world championships. With a winter temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, debaters from all other the world have migrated to Botswana, partly to escape the cold, but mainly to find out just who can talk the talk. Or even walk the walk. Just not squawk the squawk. Never that.
And for the first time in it’s proud history, St Andrews has sent not three, but four teams! Does quantity equal quality? Well, with breaks at SOAS, Edinburgh, Durham and Oxford, there is some potential for success. But who are the teams, I hear you cry?
St Andrews A = James Beadle and Farhan Samanani
St Andrews B = Ed Noel and Chris Harper
St Andrews C = Robert Cooklin and Emmanuel Michelakakis
St Andrews D = Duncan Crowe and Alasdair Clarkson
And our two lovely judges, Maureen MacIsaac and Erika Hektor.
So far, i’m the only one to have landed in Botswana. Chris should make it in soon, everyone else arrives tomorrow. It’s being absolutely beautiful and everyone has being incredibly, incredibly friendly. I could stay here for ever. Unfortunetly, with my travel going incredibly smoothly and things being so lovely, there isn’t actually much to blog about….
The competition dosn’t start proper till the 29th, with the final results being announced on New Years eve! So keep posted loyal readers. We’ll update y’all tomorrow, just to confirm everyone made here.
Your smug, sun bathing and not at all the kinda guy to rub in correspondant
James
Well done James – looking forward to following progress … from A Loyal Reader 🙂
Best of luck guys, I’ll follow the blog from the frozen wastes of Scandinavia with ardent fascination as St Andrews breaks again . Best wishes!
Where are people arriving from? Any possibility of snow based disruption?
A traitorous reader.
There may be snow based disruption but mostly for North American teams. Hopefully Maureen managed to get out before the blizzard closed the three major New York City Airports (if she was flying through them). We have 60 cm on the coast so the airports must be a mess. They are going to try to open at 16.00 but the blowing snow is going to be a problem.
A snowed-in reader.
We also have additional albeit unofficial St Andrews judges in the form of Dan Berman and Arielle Dundas.
All St Andrews agents are now in Gaborone, with the possible exception of Dan, although Rob, Erika and Ed’s luggage hasn’t quite made it yet.
James – The competition begins tomorrow. The judges briefing is where the action is.
Oh and no sign of Glasgow yet. Aberdeen are apparently here, somewhere.
Good luck everyone 🙂