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Contest Chair Script Sample for Area / Division International Speech Contest with 5 contestants
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TimeMinSessionScriptNotes
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 Contest Start
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0:000:03Opening





Guest introduction		Good afternoon fellow Toastmasters and honorable guests. My name is XXXXX. I serve this afternoon as the Contest Chair.

We are delighted to welcome you to this special event and hope this will become a memorable learning experience for all of us.

Before we move on to the contest, I would like to introduce special guests.
<Introduce guests and thank them for joining.>
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0:030:03Contest Officials IntroductionNext, I woud like to introduce our contest officials and helpers.
<Introduce contest officials and helpers: Chief Judge, Timers, Ballot-Counters, Interviewer (if assigned), Sergeant-at-Arms (or IT Masters)>

Thank you all very much for your dedicated support.
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0:060:01AnnouncementNow, I would like to make some important announcements.

> This speech contest is conducted under the latest Toastmaster International "Speech Contest Rulebook".
> The rules have been reviewed with the chief judge and contestants.
> The contestants have also been informed of the location of the timing signal and the speaking area.
> In Toastmasters speech contests, each contestant selects their own speech topics. Please note that some of the content may be personal in nature and contain language, ideas, or beliefs that some audiences may consider sensitive.		Parts in bold must be communicated to all participants.
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0:070:02> Please turn off your mobile phone or set it to silent mode.
> Recording or taking photos during the speech is not allowed. Please wait until instructed by the contest chair to begin taking photos.
> If you post any photos on social media, please ensure you have obtained the speaker's permission.
> During the speech, no one is allowed to enter or exit the room. If you are in the restroom when a speech starts, you will need to wait until the speech is finished before entering.
> The speeches shall be from five to seven minutes. Contestants who speak less than 4 minutes and 30 seconds or more than 7 minutes and 30 seconds will be disqualified.
> After each speech, there will be one minute of silence for the judges to mark the ballot. Please use that time to fill in your feedback to the speakers on the comment sheet.
> After the last speech, please remain silent until the ballot-counters have collected all ballots.
> In case of a natural disaster such as an earthquake, I as the Contest Chair may instruct the contest to be suspended. (Show the direction to the emergency exit.)
> That's all announcements from me. Thank you for your attention.
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Chief Judge Report (optional)<If you would like to have the Chief Judge report, please do it here:

Chair: Now we'd like to move on to the Judge Verification. Chief Judge (name), please give us the report.

(Chief Judge: Yes, I have collected the "Certificates of Eligibility and Originality" from all the speakers, and confirmed that they are all in order. Also, the judges, timers and ballot counters have been briefed on their duties.)

Chair: Fantastic. Chief Judge (name), may we proceed with the contest?

(Chief Judge: Yes, You may begin the contest.)

Chair: Thank you Chief Judge.		This part is not mandatory.
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0:090:03Announcing Speech OrderToday, we have 5 contestants as you can see their names on the contest program.
I would like to announce the speaking order which has been determined during the briefing.

The 1st contestant is TM ( ).
The 2nd contestant is TM ( ).
The 3rd contestant is TM ( ).
The 4th contestant is TM ( ).
The 5th contestant is TM ( ).
On the program, the speaking order from the top of the list is:
( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ).
I will repeat. From the top,
( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ).

Fellow Toastmasters and guests, are you ready for the excellent speeches? 		TM = "Toastmaster"
(make sure to read out)
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0:120:08Introduction of ContestantThe 1st Contestant is <Contestant Name>, <Speech Title>, <Speech Title>, <Contestant Name>.
[Contestant proceeds to the speaking area and say "Thank you Contest Chair." If the audiovisual equipment is functional, the contest chair will respond:] “You’re welcome.”
<<Speech Begins>>
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0:200:02Thank you TM <Contestant Name>.
We'll have one minute of silence for judging.
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0:220:40Repeat the above for all contestants.
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1:020:03Ballot collectionThank you TM <Last Contestant's Name>. We'll have one minute of silence for judging. Please send your feedback to the contestants using the comment form. Thank you.
<1 minute has passed>
Now, all 5 speeches have been delivered.
Judges will submit their ballots and timers will send the timing record to Chief Judge. Please remain silent while the Ballot-counters collect all ballots.
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1:050:03Certificate of ParticipationThank you for your cooperation. Chief Judge informed me that the ballots have been collected. Now, I would like to present the certificates of participation to each contestant.

<Show the certificate and taka a group photo>
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1:080:12Interview SessionLet’s move on to the interview session.

I would like to invite our interviewer to the stage. Please join me in welcoming TM <Interviewer> with a warm round of applause.

Thank you TM <Interviewer> for the interview session. Please give a big round of applause to our contestants and the interviewer.

(Take a group photo with the participants and the interviewer) Thank you very much, all.		Ask each contestant for her/his club name and years as a Toastmaster. Keep the interview questions short and to the point.
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1:200:03Award PresentationFinally, let us move on to the exciting awards presentation. Chief Judge has sent me the results.

1. Before announcing the contest results, I would like to inform everyone that there was no time disqualification. OR
2. Before announcing the contest results, I would like to inform everyone that unfortunately there was at least one time disqualification.

Now I will announce the result of the Contest.

The 3rd place winner is... Toastmaster ( ). Congratulations!

The 2nd place winner is... Toastmaster ( ). Congratulations!

Finally, the first place winner of <Contest Name> is Toastmaster ( ).

Congratulations to our winners! Please give them a big round of applousee!
Toastmaster <1st place winner> will represent (Area/Division) at the <Next-level Contest>.

(Take a group photo with the winners)
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1:230:02Winner Short SpeechToastmaster (1st place winner) , we wish you the very best in the next contest. Could you give us a few words, please?

"Winner short speech"
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1:250:02ClosingThank you Toastmaster ( ) and congratulations again.

I'd like to express my sincere appreciation to all contestants, contest officials, helpers, and all participants for your support to make this contest a successful one.
Thank you. I hearby close the <Contest Name>.
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1:27Contest End