In short
- The opening speech is usually your first speech on the speakers’ list, often 60 to 90 seconds long.
- Use four parts: a hook, your country’s position, your solutions, and a call to work together.
- At a calm pace, one minute is about 120 to 140 words.
- Practice out loud with a timer until it fits with time to spare.
What the opening speech is for
At the start of debate, the chair opens the general speakers’ list and delegates add their countries. Your first speech tells the room who you are, what your country wants, and who it hopes to work with. Delegates listen for allies, so a clear opening speech often decides which bloc you join.
The chair sets the speaking time. Sixty to ninety seconds is common, so prepare a full version and a shorter one.
A four-part structure
- Hook. Open with one striking fact, a short quotation, or a question that makes the room listen.
- Position. State your country’s view in one or two sentences, with the reason behind it.
- Solutions. Offer two or three concrete ideas your country wants in a resolution.
- Call to action. Invite delegations that share your goals to work with you, often naming a region or bloc.
A fill-in template
Honorable chair, fellow delegates. [One striking fact about the topic.]
The delegation of [country] believes that [your position in one sentence], because [a reason tied to your country].
[Country] proposes three steps: first, [solution]; second, [solution]; and third, [solution].
[Country] invites all delegations that share these goals, especially [a region or bloc], to build a resolution with us. Thank you. [Country] yields its time to the chair.
A full example
Here is the template filled in for the Republic of Kenya, on marine plastic pollution. It runs about 115 words, a comfortable minute.
Honorable chair, fellow delegates. Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean, and coastal communities pay the price.
The Republic of Kenya believes that plastic pollution can only be solved together, across the full life cycle of plastics. In 2017, Kenya banned plastic carrier bags nationwide; we know that ambitious action is possible.
Kenya proposes three steps: a strong global agreement on plastics, shared funding and technology for waste collection in developing coastal states, and national targets to cut single-use plastics.
Kenya invites all delegations that share these goals, especially our partners in the African Group, to build a resolution with us. Thank you. Kenya yields its time to the chair.
Delivery tips
- Speak as your country. Say “the delegation of Kenya”, not “I”.
- Look up. Glance at your notes only at the start of each part, and speak to the whole room.
- Slow down. Nerves make everyone speak faster. Pause after your hook and before your call to action.
- Stand still. Plant your feet and keep your hands relaxed or resting on the podium.
- Finish early. Ending with a few seconds to spare looks confident; being stopped by the gavel does not.
Yielding your remaining time
In many conferences, a speaker who finishes early yields the remaining time: to the chair, which ends the speech; to another delegate, who may use the rest; or to questions, if the chair allows them. Rules differ between conferences, so listen to the chair’s instructions. For a first speech, yielding to the chair is always a safe choice.
A practice plan
- Write and time it. Read it aloud with a timer and cut it until it fits.
- Record yourself. Listen once for pace and once for filler words.
- Practice with an audience. Ask a friend or parent to listen and ask you one question afterward.
- Prepare a short version. Keep a 30-second version ready in case the chair shortens the speaking time.