Speech Olympiad XVII: Unveiled. Unleashed. Unbound. #2
By Saai Syvendra ·
It was the day of the Preliminary Round.
I stepped into the quiet, crisp breeze of the university, feeling both the weight of anticipation and excitement.
From the main entrance to the Department of TMLE, I took a long, silent walk. Just me, my thoughts, and the soft crunch of gravel beneath my shoes. The calm before the storm, you could say. But slowly… almost poetically… that silence began to break.
One by one, the contestants started trickling in. Familiar faces, eager eyes, a few nervous smiles. It was all happening. Piece by piece, like clockwork, everything we had planned for weeks was starting to fall into place.
The halls were getting their final touches: chairs aligned, timing tables positioned, banners hanging just right. Contest Chairs were doing their rounds, checking in with the speakers, confirming titles, and clearing up last-minute nerves. The buzz was beginning to build. ✨
Here’s a fun twist: There were four halls for the Preliminary Round, all happening simultaneously. And the Department of TMLE? It’s a tall, slim building. Each hall on a different floor. Judges’ briefing in a separate hall.
So yes, we ran up and down four floors like caffeinated ninjas. ☕️🏃♀️🏃♂️
Meanwhile, behind the scenes:
Food was being served. Judges were being guided and welcomed, treated like the VIPs they were. 🎖️
Everything was in motion. And as I stood there taking it all in, I couldn’t help but smile.
This was it. Speech Olympiad XVII had officially begun.
The Opening Ceremony kicked off. Formality. Applause.
Meanwhile, I was sprinting between floors doing my own version of cardio.
Checklist time:
Contest Chair? Check ✅
Two timers with cards? Check ✅
Sergeant-at-Arms, backup pens, motivational speeches? All systems go ✅
The Opening Ceremony wrapped up. Contestants and judges were escorted to their halls.
And just like that… the contest had begun.
Seventeen speakers in each hall.
For the seventeenth iteration of Speech Olympiad.
One of those number alignments that just makes you go:
“Nice.” 😌
(And yes, I do remember December 10th. I’m saving the best for last. Stay tuned. 😏)
As hours rolled on, each hall turned into its own universe. Stories, nerves, applause, passion. Round after round, speaker after speaker.
Eventually, the last applause echoed. The last time card flashed. Judges picked up their lunch packs and tokens of appreciation, a small thank-you for a long morning of scribbling.
Contestants gathered outside. Some glowing, some replaying every word in their heads.
The wait was on. ⏳
Inside, the Chief Judge and team were tallying. Calculators, ballots, prayers (maybe).
And finally, it was time to announce:
A collective sigh. Joy. Relief. Disappointment. Determination. All wrapped into one collective exhale.
What followed was a blur of three weeks. Practice. Mentoring. Training. Repeat. The Semi-Finalists weren’t just polishing. They were redefining. Every pause. Every gesture. Every word. It showed how much this stage meant to them. 💪
Some contestants were seen around campus, mumbling scripts, timing impromptus. The buzz was quiet, but it was there.
Unlike Prelims, the Semi-Finals had two rounds:
🔹 Prepared Speech: 60%
🔹 Impromptu Speech: 40%
Double the pressure. Double the challenge. Double the presence.
Speech Olympiad doesn’t feel official without the red carpet. But it was missing.
Naturally, we hunted it down. Found it. From another venue.
The catch? The hall was booked until 9 PM. So, like the night shift Avengers, we swooped in. Rolled out the red. Set the sound. One last walkthrough.
Doors closed. Night called. 🌙
Buzz in the air. Crowd pouring in. Lights dimmed. Gv. Upani Gunathunga lit up the stage as MC. Then came Contest Chair Gv. Lakindu Kariyawasam.
GAME TMIE...
The prepared speeches? Powerful. Lighthearted. Raw. Emotional. Electricity in the air. Not just speeches. Stories with presence. ✨
Then came the impromptu round. The wildcard. Two minutes to prep. Then go. No slides. No props. Just voice, mind, and the ticking clock. ⏱️ And still… they delivered under the topic "Attitude and Ego are self created"
Speeches done. Judges tallying. Inside the hall? Flip the switch: Gavel Music Club came in. 🎶 A live music session. An escape. A celebration. It wasn’t just a competition anymore. It was a moment.
The Chief Judge stepped forward. The air? Frozen. And when the names were called, the roof came off. Cheers. Hugs. Relief. Joy.
The stage was set.
The finalists of Speech Olympiad XVII had been revealed. 🏆
To see how they unbound their limits, you’ll have to join me in the next one. 😉
P.S. At least now you know that December 10th has something to do with numbers. But exactly how? Well… that’s for the final blog.
(And to be honest, I never thought it’d get this long 😂)
#SOXVII
#GavelMora
#UnveiledUnleashedUnbound
