Dear Sponsors, Advisors, Judges, Adj Core members, Debaters and Volunteers,
Vietnam UADC 2019 is officially over. At this moment, we are overwhelmed with emotions that cannot be expressed in words. Looking back to the start, we must say we have come a long way in our hope to put Vietnam on the UADC map. One year ago, we won the bid to become the host for UADC 2019 in Bandung, Indonesia. It was an achievement beyond our imagination – a significant milestone in our journey to be counted as a vital member of the Asian debating community. The road to Vietnam UADC 2019 was tough and rough, and sometimes along the way we faltered a little, but the reason why we started held us together and motivated us to persist and move forward.
Our debate journey started 2 years ago in 2017 with Speak it Out – the first debate platform ever at VNU-IS for students to freely express their opinions. Debate became a whole new intellectual vista to us and also for many Vietnamese young people at our universities. Since then, we have taken baby steps, with the unstinting support of the senior debaters of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, and were able to connect with the Vietnam debate community at its nascent stage of development. Witnessing how debate could influence a person’s development, to be more self-confident, knowledgeable and socially conscious, we – VNU-IS --, decided that we must do something to support and contribute to the development of the fledgling Vietnam debate community. We believe that the success of the Vietnam UADC 2019 is the catalyst for more new beginnings for debate in Vietnam.
Last week was truly hectic for our Organizing Committee. We have slept, ate and breathed the Vietnam UADC 2019. All of our brain neurons were automatically set in the alert mode every second of the day during the tournament to ensure everything is smoothly run as planned. 365 participants from 62 teams across 16 countries in Asia – we still do not know how we survive this, but we did! We enjoyed every moment with you all, and we wish we could have more time together to chat, chill and connect.
To our sponsors: LearningLeaders, Ford, Coca Cola, Hai Tien Paper JSC., and the anonymous donor of the 2500USD, your generous contributions have helped to turn our vision into reality. We owe the Vietnam UADC 2019 success to you.
To our advisors – Mr. Loke Wing Fatt and Prof. Joshua Park: Without your tremendous help, we could not have made UADC happen. During the past one year, it has been the late night messages and directions so meticulously explained to us that have helped us to prepare with the utmost care and confidence. Although Mr. Loke could not be with us, he kept the Org Com alert from afar. He even reminded us of the sudden changes in the Hanoi weather like a doting grandpa’s care for his grand kids! And despite the fact that Prof. Park had to leave early, he messaged us every morning to instruct, to counsel and to encourage us.
You deserve the highest of our appreciation!
To Mr. George Chen - our Tab Master: You are genuinely a life saver! Thanks to you, all rounds run on time and efficiently. Thanks to you, we even have some down time for dancing and cheering! We would forever remember the unassuming, dedicated guy embracing his laptop all the time to make things easy for others. You are our Tab God indeed!
To the 5 Adj Core Members: We have been saying “thank you” million times to you and we are sure you are quite sick of our gushing gratitude. However we believe that this final note of gratitude must be endured by you all. Thanks for your sleepless nights preparing such interesting motions. Thanks for your positive vibes that kept our participants lit. Thanks for every bit of dedication you have so unselfishly bestowed upon the Vietnam UADC 2019.
To our dedicated volunteers and debaters: Coming together was a beginning. Keeping together was progress. Working together was success. We could never have done it without your enormous support!
Once again, we would like to express our most sincere appreciation to all of you who have been a part of the Vietnam UADC 2019. The tournament is over, but friendships and good memories stay forever. We hope that you all had a wonderful experience in Hanoi and the most unforgettable memories at the Vietnam UADC 2019. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all!
Till the day we meet again,
Vietnam UADC 2019 Organizing Committee
Vietnam National University, Hanoi & Vinschool Education System
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