Secondary school students from 67 countries arrived in Zagreb for the World School Debating Championship in a battle of minds in critical thinking and speaking, the Croatian Debate Society, the competition organiser, reported on Friday.

A total of 630 students will be competing on July 17-27 and the two most successful teams will meet again on July 26 in the Europa Cinema the Zagreb city centre.

More than 300 debates will be conducted in the English language during the competition and competitors have to show their knowledge of current topics in politics, economy, sport, and education, among others.

Croatia’s debate teams won the gold medal in the Singapore competition in 2015, and bronze in Germany in 2016, both in English as Foreign Language (EFL) category.

This year, Croatia will be represented by 5 students from Zagreb secondary schools, and their coach and team managers Marija Jarnjak and Ivona Anic.

“We have been preparing for the championship all year. Debates can be fickle, it all depends on the team, on getting a feeling of our opposition, but also on the judges. We know we have done everything to prepare, and we now also hope for the home-field advantage,” Anic said.

The competition is held under the auspices of President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic.

Follow N1 via mobile apps for Android | iPhone/iPad | Windows| and social media on Twitter | Facebook.