Israeli brothers win world debating championship

Omer, Sela Nevo from Tel Aviv University crowned debating world champions in English as Second Language category

Tomer Velmer|Published: 01.03.12 , 22:46

Brothers Omer and Sela Nevo from the Tel Aviv University won the World Universities Debating Championships in the English as Second Language category which was held in Manila on Tuesday. More than 3,000 teams from around the world participated in the competition.

Six months ago, the two won first place at the European championship held in Ireland. Also, this is the second time in the past three years that an Israeli team has won the world championship.

As part of the competition the various teams hold oral debates on a pre-agreed topic with each side either arguing for or against it.

Yoni Idov, the team's trainer and himself a past winner said: "This is a very important achievement for the Tel Aviv University and the State Israel.

"This is the second time we have won a competition whose sole purpose is to hold a cultural dialogue and we're showing the world the cultured Israeli who knows how to express himself in an eloquent and determined manner."

Chairman of the Tel Aviv Student Union Ori Reshtik said: "We are proud of Omer and Sela for this massive achievement and are confident we will see similar achievements in the future."