When on Saturday a teaser video poped up in Facebook, promising that a „debate related event will take place in 2016“ accompany by Syrtaki music,  rumours araised that Greece will bid for World Universities Debating Championship 2016.  The Debating Society of Greece and the Open Communication Debating Network then proudly presented the University of Macedonia bid for WUDC 2016 at the Cambridge IV. The Championship are to be held 27 December 2015 – 4 January 2016 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The host city of Thessaloniki has been a metropolis of international standing since the Roman times, being an important trade and cultural centre for the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Today, as a major hub in Southeastern Europe, it is one of the world’s ultimate party cities according to Lonely Planet and will be the European Youth Capital for 2014.

Not very much is know so far. The Orgcom is a joint effort of the Debating Society of Greece with Open Communication. It will feature people that will have run two editions of EUDC by next year and a number of large IVs and Opens around the region. They hey only stated that they have secured a four star city centre hotel, the tournament will be hosted in a modern urban campus and that they have the full backing of both the City of Thessaloniki and the University of Macedonia.  The Org Comm confirmed, that they are getting ready to put their website online on Friday: „We have a lot of details in place already but we’re keeping them for our big launch!“

You can watch their video, and check out their Facebook Page and follow them on Twitter. Lets see if debating comes home eventually.

ak