Teenagers have a funny reputation -- sex, drugs, rock `n' roll and all those other things that explain why grown-ups get white hair.

Yes, well. Only up to a point -- a point of order, in fact.

For the teenagers representing a host of nations at the ninth world debating championships are .... nice.

You expect pint-sized social terrorists, wild living and bad manners. What you get is a bunch of articulate, well-mannered youngsters more likely to earnestly argue about the ethics of violence than to actually take part in it.

The very air was filled with peace and love -- but unlike the 60s, peace and love, on the whole, came with neat hair, sharp tailoring and an attache case packed full of convincing arguments for more nuclear power.

It wasn't like that in my day -- and even the adult judges and coaches were desperate to stress the kids aren't as squeaky clean as they appear.

Barrister Chris Erskine, one of the judges from Australia, who today face England in the final, said: "They did have a dance two or three nights ago and let their hair down.

"It's incredible watching these kids on the dance floor -- there's a lot of energy there.'' He added the youngsters first stayed at the Grotto Bay Hotel -- and admitted he suspected the management viewed the arrival of hordes of teenagers the way the Romans looked forward to the Goths dropping in.

Mr. Erskine said: "I think the management was expecting chaos -- and they were stunned, all right. Nothing happened.'' And they all got on -- Muslim Pakistan, who won't go to the next World Championships in Israel because their government won't let them, fraternised happily with the Israeli squad. Gives you a different perspective on the word childish, really.

England and Argentina -- at war only 15 years ago over the Falkland Islands (or Islas Malvinas, depending on your point of view) got along like a house on fire.

Argentinian coach Sebastian Percival, an Australian teaching at the Anglophile St. George's School in Buenos Aires, said: "There is no animosity at all. One of the most wonderful things I've seen is the relationship between Pakistan and Israel.

"I've loved it -- especially the way there haven't been any groups or factions.'' But Scots team coach Cameron Wylie said that it had to be remembered that the competitors were some of the best and brightest from their countries.

He added: "These are people whose brains are their most important organ -- matters of the heart come second to matters of the head.'' Hadn his tongue not been planted firmly in his cheek, he might even have been believable.

For one thing teenagers don't have much control over is hormones -- as most adults will probably recall.

And when you mix youngsters of both sexes and 16 nationalities, you probably don't need much else in the way of stimulants.

Scots teacher Pat Slaven giggled that "there were quite a few wee romances in the air'' at a night-time social event organised for the competitors.

Czech Republic competitors Tomas Zach, 18, from Prague, and Lucas Hendrych, also 18, from Kutna Hora, both admitted it wasn't always easy to keep their minds on higher things.

In perfect English, Tomas admitted a less-than-cerebral admiration for the girls from Peru.

He laughed: "I told one of the guys from Peru I liked exotic women and Peruvian women look quite exotic to me. He said `exotic? Peruvian?' and told me blonde women were exotic to him.'' He admitted, diplomatically, of course, he found the idea of Bermuda shorts -- especially teamed with a formal jacket and tie and long socks -- "a little bit strange.'' But both teenagers -- born into a Communist state where, if they had a debate at all, there would have been two propositions and no opposition -- said they felt very lucky to be in Bermuda and allowed to express any opinions at all.

Lucas said: "Thinking has changed in the last seven years -- people are now used to thinking freely and expressing themselves.'' And he added the Czechs and competitors from the other former Soviet satellites of Latvia and Lithuania all had one thing in common -- a massive stock of jokes about Russians.

But all joking aside, Mr. Wylie's point that these youngsters -- especially those from eastern Europe -- are tomorrow's leaders had the ring of truth.

He predicted: "They are very, very clever young people. They will be tomorrow's movers and shakers, a lot of them.'' And -- on the whole -- I rather hope I'm around to see it. And be able to confide to chums that the pleasant young fella whose just been elected the President of the Czech Republic or Secretary-General of the UN has got a serious weakness for Peruvian girls.

The grand final -- between Australia and England -- will be held tonight at St. Paul AME Centennial Hall in Hamilton and is open to the public. The debate starts at 5.45 p.m. -- but spectators must be seated by 5.30 p.m.

HERE IN BERMUDA -- The world's best young debaters