320 participants from 18 countries to take part in the event

The Sultanate of Oman will host the 2nd edition of the Asian Arabic Debating Championship from January 29 to February 2, 2023.

As many as 320 participants from 18 countries will be taking part in the contest.

This was announced at a press conference held by the organisers, namely the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Oman Debate Centre and Qatar Debate Centre.

The main committee of the championship is chaired by HH Sayyid Firas bin Fatik al Said.

All necessary preparations for the event are being finalised, said Salim bin Mutair al Shamakhi, Vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Debate Centre, member of the main committee of the championship.

The organisers are compiling a guidebook comprising various related details. Moreover, the championship will be hosted at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC).

Prior to the championship, a training programme will be organised for 20 Omani arbitrators. Another training programme will target Omani teams participating in the championship, while a third training programme will be organised for all other participants.

Abdulrahman Ibrahim al Subay’ee, Director of Programmes and Projects at Qatar Debate Centre, said that compared to the first edition in which 26 teams took part, this edition sees the participation of 42 teams representing 42 universities.

Al Subay’ee added that the teams come from Australia, Azerbaijan, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen and Oman.

Al Subay’ee pointed out that Oman is participating with four teams from Sultan Qaboos University, Al Sharqiyah University, Oman College of Health Sciences and Al Buraimi University College.