For the first time in Luxembourg, the Speech Olympics took place last Friday, offering a unique opportunity for students from the European Schools to showcase their public speaking talents in the grand setting of the European Court of Justice.

The imposing courtroom of the EU’s top court did little to shake the nerves of the twenty selected students, aged 11 to 17, who came from five different European Schools across Luxembourg. Speaking in English, French or German, they tackled topics that matter to young people – from climate change and bullying to gender equality. The event, launched by the European School Luxembourg I in Kirchberg, marked the inaugural edition of the Speech Olympics in the Grand Duchy.

Teacher Barbara Pastor, one of the driving forces behind the initiative, explained that after nearly 30 years of teaching, one constant stands out: students of all ages and abilities need to strengthen their communication skills. She added that mastering public speaking is also a matter of growing confidence and personal maturity. Pastor was supported in organising the event by Arlinde Rexhepi Jakupi and Dimitra Papagianni.

Martine Molitor, First Government Counsellor at the Ministry of Education and president of Friday’s jury, welcomed the enthusiasm around the event. Roughly 100 pupils had taken part overall, and she stressed the importance of giving young people a platform where their voices can be heard, not just to judge their words, but to acknowledge their ideas, passions, and individual talents. She also emphasised that eloquence has become a vital skill for young people in today’s world.

The jury featured prominent figures including actress Élisabeth Chuffart and François Biltgen, former Minister of Justice and current judge at the European Court of Justice.

In the junior category, 11-year-old Delia Lorenzen from the Gaston Thorn school won first prize with a heartfelt speech on the value of street art, and was overjoyed by the outcome.

Among the older students, 16-year-old Franco-Danish speaker Constance Breyer from European School II in Mamer impressed the jury most. She admitted she had only been thinking about the mistakes she made during her speech and hadn’t expected to win, particularly given the high quality of all the participants and the richness of the themes they explored.

The debut edition of the Speech Olympics was met with great success. Organisers are already looking forward to a second edition next year, potentially with an even broader reach across more schools.

Watch the full report in Luxembourgish