Youth speech competition

Topics that move: Young people have a lot to say

Seven of the Tyrolean state winners with Youth Councilor Astrid Mair.

(Bild: Die Fotografen)

For decades, the youth speech competition has offered school pupils the opportunity to demonstrate their communicative talent. After the district and state competitions, the best go on to the national final. At the Tyrolean state finals on Wednesday, young people showed that they want to - and can - have their say.

Having the undivided attention of an audience for once, speaking about a topic that moves you and being successful with it - this dream came true for 52 young people at the regional final of the 71st Youth Speech Competition on Wednesday. "Classic speech", "spontaneous speech" and "mouthpiece" are the three categories in which the young talents faced the jury and an interested audience of experts.

The Great Hall in Innsbruck's Landhaus was well filled on Wednesday.

(Bild: Die Fotografen)

While the participants in the "Classical Speech" category present a prepared text of six to eight minutes in length, in the "Spontaneous Speech" category they only have five minutes to prepare before they have to give a speech of no more than four minutes on a given topic. The "Speech" category, on the other hand, allows individuals or groups of up to four young people to give a speech in a creative way.

400 euros

are up for grabs for the national winners in their categories. Second place will receive 250 euros and third place 150 euros. And: all participants who qualify for the national final will receive 50 euros. The expert jury will evaluate the performance (language, facial expressions and gestures), structure, content and originality.

Topics that move young and old alike
The topics addressed by the young people are varied: speeches on mental health, smartphone use and gender roles were followed by topics such as the Middle East conflict, social media, love, religion and power. "A vibrant democracy thrives on discourse. Young people who respectfully represent points of view and deal with current issues of our time are invaluable to our society," praised Youth Minister Astrid Mair at the award ceremony.

She congratulated the participants and expressed her respect. She was impressed by the courage and commitment of the speakers in front of the jury and audience and emphasized: "We look with joy and pride at a young generation that enriches our lives and allows us to look to the future with confidence."

The winners

• Class speech, 8th grade: Valerie Achleitner (BRG Wörgl) - "Education in transition"
• Class speech, PTS: Lana Aleid (PTS Telfs) - "Waiting loop Austria"
• Class speech, vocational schools: Anna-Sofie Juffinger (TFBS Kufstein) - "Religion - a part of me"
• Class speech, secondary school: Sophie Gruber (BHAK Wörgl) - "A voice for change"
• Spontaneous speech: Felix Maurer (Technical High School Telfs)
• Speech: Hannah Feuerstein, Sandra Mittermayer and Sophie Wirth (BHAK Reutte) - "Power (abuse)"

It will also be exciting for the winners of the state competition in the near future: the eight young people will represent Tyrol at the national finals of the youth competition in Vienna at the end of May.

"Krone" commentary: To be heard once
I can still remember how nervous I was when I took part in the youth speech competition myself. How important it was for me to present my topic well. After all, how often do you get the chance as a 15, 16 or 17-year-old to have an audience of adults give you their unconditional attention when you speak your mind in front of them?