the United States and Canada qualify through the International Independent Schools Public Speaking Championships. This competition is restricted to independent schools, and is of a similar format but of lesser significance and does not have competitor qualification requirements. Governance The championships is managed by The Independent Public Speaking Association, or IPSA. The IPSA is composed of schools and leagues that participate in the tournament on a regular basis. The organization's predominant responsibility is to oversee the tournament, and decisions about Worlds are made by general consensus at an annual general meeting. IPSA is not involved in the particulars of each tournament, and aside from a basic rubric, host schools have considerable freedom in the tournament's execution. IPSA also contains an Executive Council composed of the founding schools and schools that have attended three out of five years and hosted the competition. The Executive Council acts in an advisory capacity to host schools and when IPSA is unable to convene. It is responsible for the tournament's long-term sustainability. Past Championships Past Individual Event Winners Footnotes External links Worlds 2014, Hong Kong Worlds 2010, Lithuanian Debating Society, Lithuania Worlds 2009, Reading Blue Coats School, England Worlds 2008, Max-Born-Gymnasium and Lessing-Gymnasium, Germany Worlds 2007, Diocesan College (Bishops), South Africa World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships Information Page Schools debating competitions