Sport and politics – it is a perennial debate that receives vigorous attention every four years when the Olympics take over our screens.

So, it was a fitting topic for the final of this year’s NSW Premier’s Debating Challenge, at Sydney University’s Great Hall.

Just a few weeks since the thrilling conclusion to the Paris Games, Newtown High School of the Performing Arts took on Kirrawee High to debate ‘that the Olympic Games should always remain politically neutral’.

Newtown took the negative and won the day, arguing successfully that individuals need to make political statements during global events to effect meaningful social change.

Newtown student Scarlett Saunders said it was a timely topic.

“The topic was so recent that we all had a strong knowledge of it,” she said.

“It wasn’t the first preference for either team, though in hindsight it was a good topic for the audience.”

The final was the culmination of the 2024 state-wide knockout debating competition, involving 167 teams and roughly 660 senior students.

Victorious Newtown student Lola Merewether said the return to face-to-face debating was one of the challenges the teams had to overcome.

“The experience was very nerve-racking because we have done so many years of online debating,” she said.

“It was great to finally debate in an environment like the Great Hall. It felt like the experience matched the effort we put in.”

All debates during the competition had a one-hour preparation period followed by speeches of eight minutes.

Team member Josephine Bradfield said the Newtown team did not expect to win, which took the pressure off in the final.

“We started debating to improve our communication skills and enjoy ourselves,” she said.

“We didn’t really know each other before we started debating together, though it has really given us a bond.”

Newtown coach Cassandra Ellis said she could not be prouder of the team’s efforts.

“They were never complacent with their success, taking every opportunity to seek feedback from the adjudicators on how to improve their performances for future debates, writing pages of reflective notes and pouring over the details leading into the next debate,” she said.

Scarlett Saunders said it was an incredible feeling when the team was announced as the winners.

“The school has never won the competition before,” she said.

“This was my tenth year debating and given that this might be one of my last opportunities, I am really glad to finish the competition this way.”

Orange High School was the best placed regional school, finishing third.