Worlds 2009 and Korea

[Tom]

Hi everyone!

Jake and I are halfway through the Korea tour which is going just brilliantly at the moment. The students have been fantastic learners and even better hosts. I'd strongly encourage all of you to think about going along to All-Asians in Seoul next year if its even a remote possibility.

For those of you that aren't connected to the myriad of international debating lists, the big news today is that University College Cork (in Ireland for the geographically challenged) has just announced it will be bidding for Worlds 2009, to be held in two years time. Very little information is available right now, except that Derek Lande (one of the DCAs along with Tim Sonnreich at UBC Worlds) is chief adjudicator of their bid.

Of course, Ireland is a long, long way away from Monash, so it would be in our interests if someone else put their hand up, but at this stage its looking unlikely.

Looking forward to seeing some of you in Edmonton, some more of you in Vancouver, and the rest of you when we get back in the middle of January.

[Old Man Sashi]

Good to know that you and Jake are having an awesome time in Korea!

I recall before I left that there was a rumour doing the rounds that USyd were planning to bid? Is there any truth to that one, or was it just that - a rumour?

[guest]

sydney were thinking of bidding for it but don't have the ppl to do it - so they're not bidding.

[Julian]

Turns out Botswana are also bidding for Worlds. I haven't found any details of their bid.

[Georgia]

Apparently Botswana put forth a decent bid, but still lost out to Cork at Council, unfortunately! Argh! So far away...

Also, apparently ANU, UQ and USyd are ALL planning on bidding for Worlds 2010... will be interesting to see if they can coordinate a joint bid or not!

[Mushy]

The UQ bid will be a joint UQ/Griffith bid, to be held at the Gold coast... I have a feeling that ANU will yield if UQ get thier act together, but as for sydney who knows... Maybe their recent success will make them think twice about not being to debate at a worlds in thier won country...

[Georgia]

Ooh... Gold Coast! Yeah, here's to hoping they can get their acts together, coz a Qld-based Worlds would be awesome... and warm!

I think they'll take it pretty seriously, coz Griffith especially seem very keen on raising the profile of debating there - whilst the society is only new, the personnel are VERY enthusiastic, and really nice! So fingers crossed...!

[guest]

Some questions which someone could answer if they could
- who's heading the UQ bid?
- how far is Griffith's campus from UQ's campus?
- how big is the Griffith society (enthusiastic they may be, but they have no track record at Australs, Worlds, or anything).
- are DCAs locked in at all yet?

[Julian]

Some questions which someone could answer if they want some answers-
- who are you guest?

I don't actually know the answers to your questions, but if I did, it would be nice to know your name before I answered them. Good luck finding the answers and please post them here if you find out. You might like to include your name when you do that. Cheers.

[n]

From speaking to the ANU boys they reckon the Gold coast bid isn't actually very likely from their conversations with the relevant people and they sound very very serious about the ANU bid. They're hoping to get residential college accomodation which would make it really cheap and massively awesome (think of the room parties... think of the lack of complaints!)

Anyway, I've also heard UT Mara is thinking of bidding as is some UK uni (maybe Oxford... can't quite remember!) With what looks like quite a lot of potential bids I think it's important for Australasia to unite behind one if we want a chance of another affordable worlds in the near future after Thailand!