Back to All Events

2025 National Tournament


  • ulitsa "8-mi dekemvri" Sofia, Sofia City Province Bulgaria (map)

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 hereThis 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 13st

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