SPARK Debating

SPARK [spahrk] - [Noun] something that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst; a trace of life or vitality. - [Verb] to kindle, animate, or stimulate The brainchild of a Facebook chat session, SPARK is a tournament organized by students aimed at promoting fun and casual advocacy through debate and public speaking in Hong Kong. As opposed to other debating tournaments in Hong Kong, SPARK is a tournament on an individual basis rather than a team basis. This allows students to collaborate and brainstorm with people other than their usual teammates during prep time. Combined with the fact that all rounds and speeches are impromptu, the tournament maximizes spontaneity, style, wit and flair in debate; the unique spark and vitality between people. Currently in Hong Kong, most debate tournaments put a strong focus on formalities and intense, serious competition. Here in SPARK, we hope to find a niche in a sense that we provide quality debate experience that is fun, casual yet challenging. We hope to allow debaters to be exposed to a wider debating community, promoting exchange of ideas and to expand the horizons of debaters by providing them a chance to debate with and against people they never knew. Therefore in a sense, SPARK is equally about fun debating as well as effective communication, cooperation, teamwork and expansion of social circles.