Pan-American Schools Debate Tournament 2012

PADO Logo

The annual Pan-American Schools Debate Tournament is to be hosted by Universidad Andrés Bello in Chile. The competition is organized under the Pan-American Debate Organization (PADO) and aims “to promote debate in the Americas, and to encourage high school students to participate in international competitions.”

The four day tournament is held in the WSDC format and is intended to be used in preparation for WSDC. There will be two streams; one for English debates and another for Spanish debates. Members of PADO (Argentina, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, USA and Venezuela) are guaranteed a minimum of three teams with others on waiting list.

The competition, to be held in the second week of July, will use four prepared motions and two or more impromptu motions over 3 preliminary rounds after which 8 teams break to the quarter-finals. It is anticipated that as many as 500 students may attended the tournament.

For more information about the tournament, visit http://panamdebate.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/2012-pan-am-bid-documents-posted/
The proposed schedule can be found at http://panamdebate.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/fixture-and-time-schedule.pdf

Insane Downhill Bike Race

This video is just insane. The best bit is that it’s just one video from the Valparaiso Cerro Abajo Race in Valparaiso, Chile. The rider must brave jumps, stray dogs, and flights of stairs along the steep downhill path. The first person perspective provided by the excellent helmet cam lets us take in every glorious and frightening detail.

Respects to the competitors. This is just insane. See for yourself.