I have just spent a lovely week in Tallinn and Tartu, the two least tiny cities in Estonia. Staying in a very centrally located flat, right between the brothel and the synagogue, I was checking out people and places for next year's European Debating Championships.
I am happy to report that the organisational side is going splendidly. The buildings are fit for purpose, to use the modern expression; the hotel looks excellent and the walk between the two is both short and punctuated by food outlets. Your average British traveller to Tallinn is on a stag weekend, so people were pleasantly surprised by my relatively mild manners and treated me very kindly.
The main purpose of my visit was to train local adjudicators in advance of the tournament. Most of them were experienced in other styles of debate, especially Karl Popper, who deserves a better memorial, and American Parliamentary. As such, their big questions were about the different team roles in British Parliamentary debate and the weight given to role-fulfilment by adjudicators. I also had a chance to visit the Estonian Business School, a private university holding their first ever debate. I had to oppose the Estonian government paying the fees of students who study abroad, a position the audience reluctantly accepted. It was exciting to see 60 students attend and I hope they can build a society on the back of the event.
Finally, I can report that those attending Tallinn Euros will find an abundance of excellent bars, some good local beers and meet wonderful, welcoming people. Unless they are in a bar with Russians celebrating the 2:1 defeat of England. But I imagine they were exceptional circumstances.
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