Doha, April 30 (QNA) - QatarDebate Center, a member of Qatar Foundation in collaboration with the US Arabic Debate Union, concluded the second Midwest Arabic Universities Debating Championship, hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

In a statement today, the Center noted that the championship saw the participation of elite debaters representing nine universities from across the United States. Over three days, they engaged in intensive debates, alongside accompanying cultural activities designed to foster interaction and reinforce the values ​​of constructive dialogue in Arabic.

The statement added that the debates addressed a range of pressing global issues, including the role of social media in news dissemination, the impact of tourism on developing nations, ethical responsibilities in conflict zones and youth-led paths for social change. Participants demonstrated advanced levels of critical thinking and deep analytical skills.

This event exemplifies the growing impact and institutional sustainability of QatarDebate Center in the United States. Since 2019, over 1,000 debaters from more than 70 academic institutions have participated in the center's programs, contributing to the development of a comprehensive system for dialogue and intellectual exchange. This system is supported by a "Capacity Building Program" aimed at training personnel in the areas of judging, technical training, and tournament organization.

The Midwest Championship serves as a prime example of this success; it was managed and executed entirely by US-based teams, including organizers, debaters, judges, and media contributors, reflecting the maturity and self-reliance of the local Arabic debate community.

At the conclusion of the competition, the University of Missouri was crowned champion, followed by Macalester College in second place.

In the individual awards, Ahmed Bamhrez, a student at Missouri State University, won the title of Best Speaker in the Arabic category, while Maximilian Siu Lun Beh, a student at Columbia University, won the award for Best Speaker in the Arabic as a Second Language category. Head of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor Tania Ion, was also in attendance as Guest of Honor.

On this occasion, Championship Coordinator Dr. Iman Saadeh said "Driven by our deep belief in the Arabic language as a bridge for identity and culture, we ensure these championships are more than an intellectual competition.

They are a living experience that restores the presence of the language in the hearts and minds of youth. We are not organizing fleeting events; we are establishing dialogue spaces that foster pride in Arabic and showcase its ability to address contemporary issues with depth." (QNA)