Announcing Europeans 2002 results

Happy Passover/Easter to all,

The new European Champions are Oxford C, comprised of Tara Mounce and Fraser Campbell. They have won as 2nd proposition, on the motion "THW ban the advertisement of gambling", which revolved around (with some definitional quirks and Pacheco drama) implementing the lessons of cigarette advertising limits, and Internet gambling. The other finalists were Oxford A (Nick Pacheco and Matt Spence), Hebrew A (Neomi Kreiger and Eli Noverstern), and IDC A (Noga Issachson and Gour Braslavi). The panel of adjudicators for the final was chaired by myself, and consisted of Iva Kutle, Andy Hume, Rob Garson, Mila Turajilic, Tim O'Connor and Mark Summers.

The new European Champions for whom English is a second language are Hebrew A, comprised of Eli Noverstern and Neomi Kreiger. They won from 1st proposition on the motion "THW give Europe its own constitution", proposing a constitution as a tool for federalizing the European Union. The other ESL finalists were Charles A (Milan Konrad and Barbara Havelkova), IDC A (Gour Braslavi and Noga
Issacson), and IDC C (Avi Elkayam and Orin Schefler). The panel of adjudicators for the ESL final was chaired by Fergal Davis, and consisted of Iva Kutle, Tom Hamilton, David Ham, Tim O'Connor, Nika Svarc, and Ruvi Zigler

The two semi finals took place in the ancient "Knights Halls". The two marvelous arched halls, where the torch-lit stone walls underneath an 11th century building (Matt Spence: “I wouldn't have believed that I, an American, would find myself standing, in a cave, in the middle east, being videotaped”).

 

The Semi-finalists (the finalists, along with Leeds A, Newcastle, Limerick A and Charles A) debated the motion "THW hold the accountants accountable", discussing the repercussion of Enron on the auditing profession. The ESL semi-finalists, (which, beyond the finalists also featured Tel-Aviv A, IDC B, Tel-Aviv B and Hebrew B) debated that "THW guarantee the amnesty of retired dictators". Debates revolved around Robert Mugabe and about the incentives and disincentives of such amnesty for future dictators.

 

The Quarter finals took place immediately after break-announcement in the long promised pool-party which was a smashing success. In this party, the Newcastle and Limerick boys proved to all the Israelis that the term "warm" is relative. After being dried, the sixteen breaking teams (semi-finalists plus Tel-Aviv B, IDC B, Oxford D, Cambridge, Limerick B, Oxford B, IDC C and Tel Aviv A) went to the 20th floor of the hotel, to over watch the spectacular Haifa-Bay and Mount Carmel, and to debate the motion "THW prefer castration to incarceration for sexual offenders".

The best individual speaker award went to Matt Spence from Oxford A. The top 10 speakers are:
1. Matt Spence Oxford A
2. Nicholas Pacheco Oxford A
3. Tessa Woolfson Leeds A
4. Fraser Campbell Oxford C
5. Tom Hay Oxford D
6. Tara Mounce Oxford C
7. Andrew Zadel Oxford B
8. Naomi Krieger Hebrew A
9. Jennifer Twite Oxford D
10. Dan Goldschmied Leeds A

Michaela Matt from the swing team "Tamil Tigers" was ranked 10th, but could not qualify. Special honor goes to the four non-breakable teams, including "Tamil Tigers", the team from IDF, and the two swing-teams form Haifa "Xantipa" A and B. All of which made the general break.

The motions were:
R1: THBT referenda are the way forward for European democracy.
R2: THBT Women should have equal rights and equal obligations in the Army.
R3: THW Deny liver transplants to alcoholics.
R4: THW Clone Britney Spears (Tim O'Connor's wording: “THB in hit me Britney
one more time")
R5: THBT The European Union should ban bullfighting.
R6: THB that religious education is brainwashing children.

The complete tab for both speakers and teams shall be published soon in our website (www.zakai.com/eudc). We will also publish the PowerPoint presentation of the adjudicators' briefings and the tab software, along with the source code and documentation. I am also publishing shortly my reports about adjudication standards and procedures, and my notes about managing ESL adjudicators. A special notice will be made for both.

My gratitude for the two Deputy Chief Adjudicators, Fergal Davis and Iva Kutle who helped ensure the high standards of adjudication before and throughout the Championship. Special thanks is reserved for Yossi Baruch who wrote and ran the tab program, which will be available online soon. Miraculous work was done by Uri Zakai the convener, Shir Barniv the communications director, Aran Barniv the tournament director, Anat Gelber the logistics director, and Yaniv Zaid the social director.

So once again, congratulations for the winners, many thanks to all the participants, Good luck to Domagoj and Iva in hosting Europeans 2003 in Croatia, and Amen for being finally allowed to go to sleep.