- "Distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues," - "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," - "Honorable moderator," - "Fellow debaters,"
Polite Greetings:
- "Good evening, everyone. I am [your name] and I am honored to be here tonight." - "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my views." - "I would like to commend my opponent for their thoughtful presentation."
Respectful Greetings:
- "Although we may have different perspectives, I respect the opinions of my opponent." - "I appreciate the opportunity to engage in a civil and respectful debate." - "I value the diversity of thought that this debate represents."
Humorous Greetings (Use sparingly):
- "I'm not a professional debater, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night." - "I've prepared a PowerPoint presentation to help me remember what I'm going to say." - "My opponent is a formidable debater, but I'm here to tell you that they're not as smart as they look."