Break out

The break is now out - 16 teams, some predicted, some not. A number of teams attained the same number of wins as each other AND the same number of judges so they had to be separated by speaker points. The CAP worked through the day to tabulate all the results and by dinner time, we felt tired but happy that we had team and speaker tabs all completed. Then about an hour before the break was to be announced, Joshua Park, the convenor, asked me and Mark if we would "do the flags" the way the break teams were announced in Wales. In the past, the names have simply been read aloud but Wales 2006 had a jazzy power point presentation involving the appearance of flags which was much enjoyed.

I had assumed that the South Korean organizers would arrange this as the Welsh had done. When I realised that no, it was entirely up to the CAs to do something and at the last minute, I ran up to the computer room, filled with debaters emailing family and friends, and commenced the fastest flag search on line in South Korea, before throwing together a power point show with 16 flags, all the while trying to guard it from prying eyes. At last, I raced dowstairs with the data stick to plug into the school computer with Justin Resnick ready to launch it onto the screen at the break party.

As I flew down the stairs towards the hall where I understood everyone was gathered, I noticed the silence. I even paused for a moment, straining to hear what surely would be the hall alive with the sound of music. But it was not. I'd been to 5 WSDC break parties before tonight and there'd always been plenty of music, food, music, drink, music, dancing and music. I'd heard some music earlier on tonight and expected this famous party to be in full swing by the time the break was announced. But it was not. As I reached the hall, I realised there was no music, food, drink or dancing. It was the strangest break night ever. Instead, the debaters, judges and coaches were sitting around in the semi-darkness of a stilled hall waiting anxiously for Mark and me to proclaim the names of breaking teams before they would all be herded back onto the buses for the hotel. It seemed like a thousand eyes were staring, waiting, willing a favourable result. The silence was indeed very loud!

The "doing the flags" bit seemed to shatter that silence and wild cheers broke out as we counted from 1 to 16, with the flags flashing onto the screen. You might think we would count from 16 to 1, but most people have worked out the top ranked teams and there's always more interest and speculation as to who else made the break, especially as so many teams were so close this year.

The debaters from Slovenia who broke 8th were just screaming and screaming - and everyone around them could not help but join in exuberantly. The whole count down became a joyous cacophany, even by those who didn't break but were barracking wildly for one or more of the top 16.

And I guess you want to know who they are. The octo-finals start tomorrow afternoon. The first ranked team must debate the 16th, the 2nd the 15th, the 3rd the 14th and so on. Sides will be chosen by a coin toss before the topic is announced. Send them all your best wishes.


1. Ireland 16. South Africa
2. England 15. Greece
3. Hong Kong 14. Philippines
4. Australia 13. Argentina
5. Singapore 12. Israel
6. Scotland 11. USA
7. Pakistan 10. South Korea
8. Slovenia 9. Canada

Signing out from Seoul

Kiwi Claire