IT WILL be tough to win an argument in Galway this week as the European Universities Debating Championships kicks off.
Heated discussions are common on any college campus but NUI Galway is being plagued by arguments this week as 360 of the top debaters battle it out.
The best debaters from across the world are in the city for the event with 23 countries represented in the 180 participating teams.
The Irish flag is being flown by Trinity College, UCD, UCC, DCU and UL, while hosts NUI Galway have their hands full with ensuring the show goes on, says convenor Nollaig Ó Scannláin.
“Everything is going well so far thankfully. It has been a hectic first day, getting bedded in is always difficult but hopefully we have a good week . . . NUI Galway cannot take part but the competition is fierce without us,” he said.
The event began on Sunday with registration in the college. But almost all of the south campus will see debates taking place for the coming days.
Moreover, while the local supporters will be rooting for the Irish contingent, Mr Ó Scannláin thinks the battles in the “English as a second language” events are proving equally interesting.
“While all of the debates are run through English, there is a separate competition for debaters whose first language is not English. But the standard is so high there that there is every chance that they might be able to force their way into the English as a first language section,” he said.
He said the first results would not be available until Wednesday evening but there should be a good indication with preliminary results. “We will then have the quarter-finals and semi-finals on Thursday with the grand final taking place on Friday. It is going to be a full-on week with plenty of stress ahead. But we are up to the challenge.”
That, of course, is presuming there are no arguments about the winners.