The Rumble in the Alps

The Rumble in the Alps: The Debate to Solve the Murder of Clyde the Frog was a team debate between the guests at the funeral of Clyde the Frog and a group of stuffed toy owners in the United States and Canada, and moderated by Swiss historian and news reporter Lucas Feierabend, Swiss vice minister, Benjamin Beckenbauer and the President of the Swiss News Agency, Sabine Maurer. It took place on November 3, 3962 in Geneva, Switzerland, starting at 8 pm with most of its audience viewing via Internet stream and subsequent download to surpass the Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium.

It was believed to be part of World War VIII, but it was a non-violent event. The name of the event evokes the 1974 boxing match The Rumble in the Jungle; each participant was given a "championship belt" by the moderator following the debate.

The format of the debate was broken up into two sections: the first half followed the usual debate format, while for the second half, they took seats closer to the audience and answered questions posted by the audience and viewers on the Internet. While the discussion topics were essentially the same as most presidential debates a few days prior to the establishment of a new United Nations agency, the International Committee of Stuffed Toy Ownership & Protection, much of the event was laced with humor.

Viewing
Promotional posters had explicitly announced, "It's why Frank Peterson reinvented the Internet." A live internet stream and downloadable video files were offered for SFr$4.95, with all debate participants in this debate donating half of the net profits to a number of charitable causes. The day after the debate was announced, tickets to attend the event live at the SEG Geneva Arena at Palexpo were sold out.