This is the Tournament Portal for our National Tournament in Sofia. The upcoming tournament will be held at the University of National and World Economy on April 19-21, 2019. Registration for the tournament is closed.
LETTER OF INVITATION
The official letter of invitation for the tournament can be downloaded here. If you want a customized letter mailed to your school, e-mail us at info@bestfoundation.bg.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, April 19th
16:30 - 18:00 - Team Check In
Judge Briefing Session 1
18:15 - 19:00 - Opening Ceremony
19:15 - 20:00 - The BEST Of Times Showcase
Saturday, April 20th
8:45 - Round 1 Flight B: Oratory, Prose, and Duo
Judge Briefing Session 2
10:15 - Round 1 Flight A: Debate (Prepared) and Poetry
11:45 - Round 2 Flight B: Oratory, Prose, and Duo
UNWE Presentation Session 1
13:15 - Round 2 Flight A: Debate (Impromptu) and Poetry
UNWE Presentation Session 2
14:15 - Lunch break & Organization Fair
15:15 - Quarterfinals: Oratory and Prose
Semifinals: Duo
16:45 - Quarterfinals: Poetry
Round 3: Debate (Prepared)
18:15 - Semifinals: Oratory and Prose
19:45 - Semifinals: Poetry
Round 4: Debate (Impromptu)
Sunday, April 21st
8:45 - Finals: Poetry, Debate
10:15 - Finals: Prose, Oratory, Duo
12:30 - Closing Ceremony
JUDGING
We welcome all high school graduates with C1 or higher English to judge at our tournaments. If you are new to BEST and our tournaments, visit our Judging Basics page!
We will reimburse all judges for their transport if they use trains or buses, but we strongly encourage taking the most affordable option when possible (usually trains). Please purchase your ticket back from the tournament location as well, as we cannot reimburse you without being presented tickets. We will provide food at the tournament site, and we will also cover one night of hotel accommodations for regional tournaments. In exceptional circumstances when a judge can’t make it to the tournament site before 8am on Saturday, we will cover two nights of hotel accommodation.
Judge registration for the tournament has now closed.
TEAM ROSTER AND HOTELS SPREADSHEET*
The team roster and hotels spreadsheet is no longer available since registration is closed.
In compliance with European GDPR laws, any student who wishes to attend this BEST tournament needs to have a photo release form printed and signed by their parent/guardian (or themselves if they’re over 18 years old). If a student’s coach fails to send photographic proof of the filled in form to BEST by registration deadline, the student’s registration is void. More info can be found in the Registration Checklist we e-mail to coaches when registration opens.
*Note: Any names and other personal data filled in the spreadsheet will be used solely for the purposes of organizing the tournament, securing accommodation, and tournament statistics.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The Scholarship application form is no longer available since registration is closed.
TRANSPORTATION
If you are in need of a taxi, we recommend Yellow taxi - 02 9119.
In order to get to UNWE without using a cab, we recommend using the Moovit app or desktop site - just plug in the location you’re departing from and Moovit will guide you through Sofia public transport. Please do account for normal business of traffic and the fact that over 300 other BEST participants might end up trying to take the same public transport routes, so make sure to depart and arrive at least 30 minutes before your actual ideal arrival time.
The tournament will take place at the University of National and World Economy’s main building, which can be found on this Google map:
FOOD
We will provide a list of restaurants and stores in town a week before the tournament.
DEBATE MOTIONS
Novice Prepared:
THW decriminalize the use of all recreational drugs.
*Recreational drugs include, but are not limited to: marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and the like.TH, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, would end the practice of giving separate acting Oscars to men and women.
THBT LGBT+ Pride campaigns should focus on direct protest rather than celebration.
Novice Impromptu hints:
Gun Violence
Feminism
Varsity Prepared:
THR the rise of surveillance capitalism.
*Surveillance capitalism can be loosely described as the act of collecting and processing personal and behavioral data as part of capitalism's core profit-making motive.TH, as the U.S. Democratic party, would nominate a centrist as opposed to a left-wing candidate in 2020
THR the shift in the #MeToo movement from victims sharing their experiences to holding public figures accountable.
Varsity Impromptu hints:
Refugees
Art Ownership