WUDC 2012: Indonesia Sends Big Contingent, Gets "A" Status

The 2012 World Universities Debating Championships, the most prestigious debating tournament on the planet, officially kicked off today at Manila's De La Salle University with a record-tying number of Indonesian teams. Universitas Indonesia sent the 2 first Indonesian teams to WUDC 1999, coincidentally also held in the Philippines. In WUDC 2005 in Malaysia, there were 17 Indonesian teams, eclipsing the past record by far. When WUDC 2012 debates start tomorrow, the same number will join the competition.

Besides 4 pairs from UI, there will be 2 squads each from Binus University and Universitas Atma Jaya while Binus International, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Sekolah Tinggi Akuntansi Negara, STBA Teknokrat, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Negeri Padang, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta and Universitas Padjadjaran respectively sent a team. These institutions had reached a decision to have Bryan Gunawan from Binus University as the Indonesian representative for the Worlds Council.

Bryan today tweeted that Indonesia won the right to earn a "A" nation voting status because there had been at least 4 Indonesian institutions in the last 2 WUDCs. More than 6 Indonesian universities sent teams to WUDC 2010 and 2011. That new status means Indonesia now has 4 votes in the council, which will be crucial in deciding the next host. Up until now, there has been no bids for WUDC 2014 although there is a rumour there might be an audacious attempt to bring the competition to Indonesia in the near future.