The Scripps National Spelling Bee, a time-honored tradition celebrating young linguistic talent, is returning to Washington D.C. this year. The competition will be held at Constitution Hall, a stone’s throw from the White House, marking its return to the nation’s capital after a long stint in suburban Maryland.
This year’s event, the 98th in its storied history, will see 247 spellers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and five other countries, including The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates. The competition kicks off on Tuesday and concludes on Thursday night.
Competition Structure
The bee is structured to test the mettle of young spellers through multiple rounds. Spellers must first navigate two preliminary rounds, which include a spelling round and a multiple-choice vocabulary round, using words from a pre-provided list. Successful contestants then advance to a written spelling and vocabulary test, with the top 100 or so moving on to the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals and semifinals will see spellers eliminated through oral spelling or vocabulary questions. The finals will feature about a dozen spellers, and if necessary, a lightning-round tiebreaker known as a “spell-off” will determine the champion.
Broadcast and Hosting
This year, the bee will be broadcast and streamed on various platforms owned by Scripps, a Cincinnati-based media company. The preliminary rounds will stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com. The semifinals and finals will be available on ION and other Scripps channels, ensuring broad access for viewers nationwide.
In a new development, ESPN NFL analyst and recent “Celebrity Jeopardy!” champion Mina Kimes will host the event, adding a fresh face to the bee’s broadcast team.
Notable Participants
Among the notable participants is Sarv Dharavane from Dunwoody, Georgia, who finished third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. With two more years of eligibility, Sarv remains a strong contender for this year’s title.
The winner of the bee will receive a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes, a testament to the dedication and skill required to excel in this prestigious competition.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
