Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite your students to compete at the inaugural Harvard Debate Council Mumbai Invitational hosted at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, India from November 1-2, 2025. We are excited to continue building on the opportunities created by our partnership with Ivy Spires and ably supported by Looking Glass and Avid Learning to continue building debate infrastructure in Mumbai.

The tournament will feature competition in World Schools Debate, with five preliminary rounds breaking to the semifinals. The tournament is part of the newly launched International Speech and Debate Initiative. Together, the Harvard Debate Council and the JW Patterson Tournament of Champions seek to expand speech and debate opportunities for students around the world.

The winning team in the Varsity division will receive a qualifying bid to the Tournament of Champions hosted by the University of Kentucky. TOC qualification describes the process students complete to reach the JW Patterson Tournament of Champions, hosted by the University of Kentucky. Qualification for the Tournament of Champions is reserved for the best public speakers and debaters around the globe.

We look forward to welcoming your teams!

A full schedule and additional details will be posted shortly.

Sincerely,

Tripp Rebrovick, Aaron Timmons, Ed Williams, and Smiti Kanodia

Harvard Debate Council

Invitation Letter

Dear Debaters,

It is with immense pride that we invite you to the Harvard Debate Council Mumbai Invitational 2025, co-hosted by Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) and Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School (NMAJS), in collaboration with the Harvard Debate Council (HDC), USA.

This historic tournament marks the first-ever Harvard Debate Council–affiliated in-person debate competition in India, uniting outstanding middle and high school debaters in a world-class environment modelled on Harvard’s traditions of excellence, rigor, and intellectual exchange.

The event will follow the World Schools Debate (WSD) format and include both prepared and impromptu motions. Participants will have the rare opportunity to learn from and be adjudicated by Harvard-trained coaches and certified judges.

Winners of the Senior Division will earn a direct qualifying seed to the 2026 Tournament of Champions (TOC) at the University of Kentucky, while Junior Division winners will receive an invitation to the Harvard World Schools Invitational 2026 (Online Division) during the Harvard National Speech & Debate Tournament.

Event Overview

• Divisions:
• Junior: Grades 6–8 (Teams of 3 members)
• Senior: Grades 9–12 (Teams of 3 members)
• Format: World Schools Debate (Prepared + Impromptu)
• Contact: HDC India – +91 98334 37216 / hdc@ivyspires.com
• Venue: Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School, Mumbai

Schedule Overview

Friday, October 31 – Pre-Tournament

• 4:00 PM: Reporting
• 4:30–5:30 PM: Judge Orientation & Participant Training (Harvard Debate Council)

Saturday, November 1 – Preliminary Rounds

• 9:00 AM: Reporting
• 9:30–11:00 AM: Round 1 (Prepared Motion)
• 11:00–12:30 PM: Round 2 (Prepared Motion)
• 12:30–1:30 PM: Lunch
• 1:30 PM: Round 3 Motion Release
• 2:30–4:00 PM: Round 3 (Impromptu)
• 4:00 PM: Round 4 Motion Release
• 5:00–6:30 PM: Round 4 (Impromptu)

Sunday, November 2 – Elimination Rounds

• 9:30–11:00 AM: Round 5 (Prepared Motion)
• 11:00 AM: Announcement of Semi-finalists & Lunch
• 11:30 AM: Semi-final Motion Release
• 1:00–2:30 PM: Semi-finals
• 2:30 PM: Final Motion Release
• 3:30–5:00 PM: Finals
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Awards Ceremony

Awards & Recognition

• Senior Champion Team: Direct TOC Qualifying Seed (2026, Kentucky)
• Junior Champion Team: Invitation to Harvard World Schools Invitational (Online)
• Top 10 Speakers recognized
• Certificates: All participants receive official Harvard Debate Council certificates

General Tournament Rules

1. Chaperones & Coach Contact Information

• All teams must be registered under a school.
• Schools must ensure that all contact details (phone/email) for participants, coaches and judges are accurate and updated on the registration platform.

2. Unaffiliated / Independent Entries

• Independent entries are not permitted.

3. Judge Requirements

• Judges must adhere to all codes of conduct governing Harvard Debate Council events.
• Absence from assigned rounds may result in penalties or replacement.
• All judges must attend the official Harvard Debate Council training session on Friday (4:30–5:30 PM).

4. Elimination Round Participation

• Qualified teams are expected to compete in all elimination rounds.
• A team withdrawing without valid reason will be considered to have forfeited.
• Co-championships will not be awarded — a single winning team will be recognized per division.

5. Conduct Policy

The tournament upholds the values of respect, inclusivity, and integrity.

Harassment or discrimination of any kind — including gender-based, racial, or religious — is strictly prohibited.

The event will follow the Harvard College Interim Policies on sexual and racial misconduct.

Any complaint may be directed to the Tournament Ombuds Committee or the Tournament Director, who will escalate to relevant authorities if necessary.

6. Tournament Ombuds Committee

An independent 3-member Ombuds Committee will be available to address:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) issues
• Fairness or procedural concerns
• Judge or tabulation complaints

Technology, Recording, and Observer Policy

• Recording of rounds is prohibited.
• Observers are allowed but must remain muted, cameras off, and properly identified (“Observer – Name”).
• Unauthorized recording or use of alternate platforms is strictly prohibited.
• Cameras of competitors and judges should remain off during speeches and RFDs.

AI Policy

• Debate Speeches: No AI-generated text or evidence may be presented as original work.
• Research Use: Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) may guide topic exploration but cannot be cited as a source.
• Interpretation & Speech Events: Students may not perform or quote from AI-generated material.
• Violations will result in disqualification and notification to coaches.

Registration & Payment

• Deadline: Monday, October 27, 2025
• Late entries or non-payment after deadline will not be accepted.
• Teams dropping out after confirmation will forfeit entry fees.

Tournament Conduct

• All participants must maintain decorum befitting a Harvard Debate Council–sanctioned event.
• Disrespectful behaviour, plagiarism, or unsportsmanlike conduct will lead to immediate disqualification.
• Coaches are responsible for ensuring that student behaviour aligns with these standards.

Contact Information

hdc@ivyspires.com

+91 98334 37216

Follow Ivy Spires www.ivyspires.com official website for updates.