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It is the World Cup of public speaking, the Olympics of oratory. On Saturday morning, August 18, 10 articulate Toastmasters will vie for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking at the Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. The speech contest is one of the highlights of Toastmasters' annual International Convention (Aug. 15-18), which is expected to draw nearly 2,000 Toastmasters from all over the world.

Each year more than 10,000 members of Toastmasters International compete in this speech contest. The competition begins at the club level with winners advancing to area and regional contests, and it culminates each August during the International Convention where 10 finalists contend for the top honor.

The contest speeches are five-to-seven minutes long, with no restrictions on topic selection. Contestants will be judged on content, speech organization, voice quality, gestures and delivery.

Last year's World Champion of Public Speaking title went to Ed Hearn, a lawyer and minister from Chicago. He has since pursued his dream of becoming a fulltime professional speaker and has given presentations to audiences internationally.

Through its worldwide network of clubs, Toastmasters International has helped more than four million people develop their public speaking skills since the organization's humble beginning in Santa Ana, Calif., in 1924. This year, Toastmasters International celebrates its 83nd anniversary with more than 226,000 members and 11,300 clubs in 90 countries, including 73 clubs in Phoenix alone.

SOURCE: Toastmasters International

Web site: http://www.toastmasters.org/