Doha, May 13 (QNA) - QatarDebate, a Qatar Foundation-member, wrapped up the 1st stage of the International Schools Debating Championship, with broad student participation from across the world. The 1st of two stages featured five rounds of live online debates, during which participants competed in front of judging panels composed of 60 experienced adjudicators in the field. In a statement, QatarDebate noted that students from 36 countries took part in the championship, reflecting significant cultural diversity and offering rich opportunities for the exchange of experiences and ideas among students from different backgrounds. The following teams qualified for the final stage: Algeria, Bahrain, Canada, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, and Turkiye. QatarDebate said that qualifying for the next stage reflects those teams' tremendous efforts, adding that the strong and exciting competitions of the final round will take place in Doha from June 28 to 30, featuring teams from 16 countries. In preparation for the International Schools Debating Championship, national tournaments were held in 15 countries in collaboration with local partners to select top-performing teams to represent their nations. These countries include: Algeria, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Singapore, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkiye. In this context, QatarDebate organized training workshops for adjudicators and coaches, which contributed to improving the technical readiness of the participating teams and enhancing the quality of performances during the qualifiers. Evaluation considers the strength of arguments, clarity of expression, persuasiveness, and engagement with the audience. Regarded as an international academic event, the championship aims to promote a culture of dialogue and debate among high school students aged 14 to 18, broadening their intellectual horizons by discussing a wide range of topics, including tourism, health, technology, social life, and philosophy. Debate Coachآ at QatarDebate, Jaber Abu Humaid, praised the high-level performances demonstrated by the participating teams, adding that the championship's primary goal is to instill a culture of dialogue among the youth and to develop their abilities in constructive debate and academic argumentation. QatarDebate expressed pride in the accomplishments of the first stage and voiced its eagerness to host an outstanding final round. (QNA)