About Alison
In March, the "Elite 8" teams are announced. These teams win all-expenses-paid trips to New York City to compete during IPPF Finals Weekend, which begins on Friday, April 30, 2021.
Finals Weekend kicks off on Friday evening with a Welcome Reception at the New York Athletic Club. During the reception, teams have an opportunity to meet the other Elite 8 teams, members of the IPPF Advisory Board, and former IPPF champions.
On Saturday, teams supplement their written advocacy with oral argumentation. Debates take place at The Harold Pratt House, home of the Council on Foreign Relations. Judges for the oral rounds have included NYU President Emeritus John Sexton, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard N. Haass, Ret. General Wesley Clark, National Speech and Debate Association Executive Director Scott Wunn, and NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino.
Following the debates, an Awards Ceremony is held at the Pratt House and the IPPF World Champion is named. That team is awarded a $10,000 grand prize and the Brewer Cup!
(Note: Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our IPPF competitors. Should we be unable to host the event in New York in 2021 due to COVID-19, we will host an online IPPF Finals the same weekend, with a judging panel that will include NYU President Emeritus John Sexton and Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner William A. Brewer III.)
