This is the Tournament Portal for our 2025 National Tournament which will be held at the University of National and World Economy in Sofia on April 11th-13th 2025.
Registration deadline
Participants should complete all the necessary documents and upload them to their Team folder by the 25th of March. Please, don’t wait until the last moment. Especially important is to fill out the Team Roster indicating the exact arrival and departure time and date of all participants from your team.
Transfer your registration fees (30 per student) to the BEST bank account mentioning the school’s name and town in the “основание” until 25.03.2025.
Scholarship
You can apply for a travel scholarship (if your school is not covering your travel) by clicking here. This should be done by the 25th of March. Find a suitable chaperone (must be aged 18 or over and be able to speak fluent Bulgarian). BEST covers travel by train and accommodation for 1-night costs for up to one chaperone per team.
Judges
We are always welcoming new judges who are passionate about helping the students to realize their full potential. If you would like to judge at the National Tournament, please, sign up here. BEST is covering a one-night hotel stay for all judges who are not from Sofia and is providing lunch and drinks for them at the tournament venue. In order to judge at BEST tournaments, you should have at least C1 English language skills.
Accommodation
BEST reserves hotel rooms for each team but DOES NOT cover the accommodation cost. BEST commits to negotiating accommodation costs at or under 40 BGN per student per night. This does not apply for single rooms. If you require to be accommodated in a single room, the price per night might be double, depending on the hotel.
Press releases
(EN) Pre-Tournament Press Release
(BG) Pre-Tournament Press Release
Debate Motions
Novice
Prepared Motions
This House Would make voting a legal requirement for all citizens over the age of 18 in Bulgaria.
This House Would implement policies to reduce sugary drink consumption in Bulgaria.
This House Would take stronger measures to combat greenwashing
Impromptu hints
Entertainment, Creativity
Family, Education
Varsity
This House Believes that only liberal democracies should host international sporting events.
This House Would implement mandatory recycling quotas for all households.
This House Would mandate companies to grant employees a four-day workweek.
Impromptu hints
Media, Public health
Ethics, Societal responsibility
Schedule
2025 National Tournament
Friday, April 11th
17:30 - 18:00 - Team Check In
18:15 - 20:00 - Opening Ceremony
Saturday, April 12th
08:45 - Speech Judge Q+A // SL Meeting
9:30 - Round 1 Flight A: Oratory, Prose, and Duo
Debate Judge Q+A
10:45 - Round 1 Flight B: Debate (Prepared) and Poetry
12:00 - Round 2 Flight A: Oratory, Prose, and Duo
13:15 - Round 2 Flight B: Poetry and Impromptu Debate Motion Released (45 min. of prep)
14:00 - Round 2 Debate start time
14:15 - Lunch
15:00 - Quarterfinals: Varsity Oratory and Varsity Prose
Semifinals: Novice and Varsity Duo, Novice Oratory, Novice Prose
15:30 - Reimbursement for Team Scholarships and Travel Chaperones (1 hour)
16:30 - Semifinals: Novice and Varsity Poetry
Round 3: Debate (Prepared)
18:00 - Semifinals: Varsity Oratory and Varsity Prose
19:15 - Round 4: Impromptu Debate Motion Released (45 min. of prep)
20:00 - Round 4: Debate start time
Sunday, April 13th
09:00 - Finals Flight A: Prose, Oratory, Duo
10:00 - Reimbursement for Judges (1 hour)
10:45 - Finals Flight B: Poetry, Debate
13:30 - Closing Ceremony
15:00 - Departures